Harry, the swimmer with the fastest time on the Springfield College swim team, routinely hyperventilates before a meet, as he sa
ys, "to sock some more oxygen into my lungs so I can swim longer without having to breathe." First of all, what basic fact about oxygen loading has Harry forgotten (a lapse leading to false thinking)? Second, how is Harry jeopardizing not only his time but his life?
From the question, Harry seem to have forgotten that It's the CO2 (carbondioxide) level not the O2 (oxygen)level that gives rise to the urge to breathe. That is to say that once the CO2 level in the blood is high, the brain will trigger a breathing response, that will cause the person(Harry) to try to gasp for air. Also, Harry is jeopardizing his time and life because Hyperventilation itself reduces the CO2 concentration of the blood to below normal level, this makes the bloods pH value to raise, this in turn causes the constriction of the blood vessels that supply the brain, and prevents the transportation of certain electrolytes necessary for the function of the nervous system.
Physiologically hyperventilation is an homeostatic mechanism to adjust increase in C02 concentrations of the blood, and the corresponding acidic level ; so that as more C02 molecules are released to the outside through the lungs, the acidosis of blood drops. It has no connection with oxygen saturation and storage.Oxygen saturation and storage depends on percentage saturation and binding with hemoglobin. In particular the oxygen storage he needs should be in his myoglobinwhich is an oxygen storage protein for him during swimming. Thus he was living in fallacy.
Hyperventilation when not adjusted by physiological compensatory mechanisms lead to elevated alkaline levels of the blood called respiratory alkalosis.This is because as the levels of C02 drops from continuous exhalation from the blood,(hypocapnia), more Hydrogen ions in the blood reacts with HC03- to form H2C03,a reaction catalysed by carbonic anhydrace.(reverse reaction). so as to raise the blood levels of C02 leading to Respiratory Alkalosis.
This disrupts the blood acid-base balance. In addtion because Bohr effects is disrupted brain cells and tissues are not getting enough oxygen from poor oxygen binding by the haemoglobin thus dizziness, fainting sets in. Thus if he continues to hyperventilate, he is jeopardizing his his life and carrier.
