Hypoventilation can compensate for

Hypoventilation can compensate for

• A. Nonrespiratory acidosis
• B. Mixed alkalosis
• C. Mixed acidosis
• D. Nonrespiratory alkalosis

Answer: (A)

When the primary problem is a metabolic (nonrespiratory) disturbance that raises pH, the body tries to bring pH back toward normal by adjusting CO2 levels through ventilation. In metabolic alkalosis, too much bicarbonate makes the blood too alkaline. To compensate, the respiratory system retains CO2 by reducing ventilation, which increases carbonic acid and lowers pH toward normal. So hypoventilation serves as the respiratory compensation for nonrespiratory alkalosis. This contrasts with metabolic acidosis, where the usual compensation is hyperventilation to blow off CO2 and raise pH.

When the primary problem is a metabolic (nonrespiratory) disturbance that raises pH, the body tries to bring pH back toward normal by adjusting CO2 levels through ventilation. In metabolic alkalosis, too much bicarbonate makes the blood too alkaline. To compensate, the respiratory system retains CO2 by reducing ventilation, which increases carbonic acid and lowers pH toward normal. So hypoventilation serves as the respiratory compensation for nonrespiratory alkalosis. This contrasts with metabolic acidosis, where the usual compensation is hyperventilation to blow off CO2 and raise pH.