Is the student likely to be experiencing acidosis or alkalosis

Question

A student hyperventilates and is disoriented just before an exam. Is the student likely to be experiencing acidosis or alkalosis? How will the body compensate in an effort to maintain homeostasis?

Answer 1

Hyperventilation causes a respiratory alkalosis. The tingling in the hands and around the mouth comes from a calcium shift, and people eventually wear out and just quit hyperventilating, even without treatment, so there isn't time for a significant change in the significant compensatory mechanisms one usually thinks of.

Answer 2

alkalosis. hyperventilation will remove excess CO2 from the body. When the CO2 is removed it shifts the bicarbonate buffer system equation to the right resulting in more C02/H20 and less HCO3- / H+ which raises the pH (alkalosis). The body could respond simply by hypoventilation which will reverse the process (there are a number of other ways the body can respond though).