Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors cause less movement of carbonic acid toward CO₂ production and are used as a prophylactic treatment of altitude sickness.Altitude sickness occurs when a hiker ascends to altitudes where the density of oxygen is low.How does this decrease the symptoms of high altitude sickness?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors prevent the conversion of carbonic acid to bicarbonate ions and hydrogen ions. This leads to a decrease in the pH of the blood and an increase in ventilation, as the body attempts to compensate for the increased acidity. The increase in ventilation leads to an increase in the delivery of oxygen to the tissues, which helps alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness. Therefore, the excess bicarbonate ions are excreted in the urine, which results in an increase in blood acidity that leads to an increase in ventilation. Option C correctly describes this process. Option A is incorrect because the excess hydrogen ions are not excreted in the urine; rather, they combine with bicarbonate ions to form carbonic acid. Option B is also incorrect because the excretion of bicarbonate ions does not directly affect blood pressure. Option D and E are also incorrect because they do not accurately describe the mechanism by which carbonic anhydrase inhibitors decrease the symptoms of altitude sickness.

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors Cause Less Movement of Carbonic Acid Toward