Which condition is associated with respiratory alkalosis?

Respiratory alkalosis occurs when there is an increased rate of breathing (hyperventilation), which leads to a decrease in carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Anxiety is known to cause hyperventilation due to heightened nervous system activity. When an individual experiences anxiety, they may breathe faster and deeper than normal, resulting in excessive loss of carbon dioxide (CO2). This leads to a decrease in hydrogen ions and an increase in blood pH, characteristic of respiratory alkalosis.

In contrast, conditions such as hypovolemia, hyperaldosteronism, and hypoparathyroidism are not directly linked to hyperventilation or CO2 loss. Hypovolemia typically leads to compensatory mechanisms that affect the body's acid-base balance but does not specifically cause respiratory alkalosis. Hyperaldosteronism affects sodium and potassium levels primarily, without a direct impact on the respiratory process. Hypoparathyroidism mainly influences calcium metabolism and does not induce hyperventilation. Thus, the strong association of anxiety with hyperventilation clearly identifies it as the condition linked to respiratory alkalosis.