A healthy 33-year-old woman relocates to an area approximately 8000 ft above sea level. On her first day, she begins to hyperventilate, but in 24 hr she shows signs of recovery. What is the probable cause of her condition?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

High altitude causes a healthy person's ventilation to increase because low barometric pressure decreases the inspired PO₂, and thus the arterial PO_2,which in turn raises the sensitivity of peripheral chemoreceptors to H⁺. The resulting increase in ventilation is less than expected, though, because hyperventilation lowers the PaCO₂ and raises arterial pH.

A Healthy 33-Year-Old Woman Relocates to an Area Approximately 8000