Respiratory alkalosis
| Respiratory alkalosis | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Alkalosis - respiratory |
| Davenport diagram outlines pH and bicarbonate levels | |
| Specialty | Pulmonology, Anaesthesia |
| Symptoms | Tetany, palpitation |
| Causes | Hyperventilation, Pulmonary disorder |
| Diagnostic method | Chest x-ray, Pulmonary function tests |
| Treatment | Detect underlying cause |
Respiratory alkalosis is a medical condition in which increased respiration elevates the blood pH beyond the normal range (7.35–7.45) with a concurrent reduction in arterial levels of carbon dioxide. This condition is one of the four primary disturbances of acid–base homeostasis.
Respiratory compensation is also a condition where increased respiration reduces carbon dioxide sometimes to level below the normal range. In this case it is a physiological response to low pH from metabolic processes and not the primary disorder.