Respiratory alkalosis is a medical condition in which increased respiration elevates the blood pH beyond the normal range (7.35-7.45) with a concurrent reduction in arterial levels of carbon dioxide. During acute respiratory alkalosis, the person may lose consciousness where the rate of ventilation will resume to normal. 2  Chronic respiratory alkalosis is a more long-standing condition. 3  For every 10 mmHg drop in PCO 2 in arterial blood, there is a corresponding 5 mEq/L drop in bicarbonate ion.