What consequence can result from hyperventilation in patients?

Hyperventilation results in significant changes to the patient's respiratory and metabolic state. When a patient hyperventilates, they exhale more carbon dioxide (CO2) than the body produces. This rapid loss of CO2 leads to a decrease in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the blood, which in turn raises the blood pH, resulting in a condition known as respiratory alkalosis. The elevated pH can cause various symptoms, such as lightheadedness, tingling in the extremities, and muscle cramps, all linked to the altered ion balance in the body due to the loss of CO2.

In contrast, decreased oxygen saturation and increased carbon dioxide retention are not direct consequences of hyperventilation. Instead, hyperventilation typically results in increased oxygen availability due to faster breathing rates, while carbon dioxide levels drop. Hypercapnia, or elevated CO2 levels, is generally associated with hypoventilation rather than hyperventilation, further highlighting why respiratory alkalosis is the correct outcome of hyperventilation.