Which factor is a common cause of increased ventilation leading to respiratory alkalosis?

Increased ventilation leading to respiratory alkalosis is commonly associated with high altitude. When a person ascends to high altitudes, the partial pressure of oxygen decreases, resulting in reduced oxygen availability. The body responds to this lower level of oxygen by increasing the rate and depth of breathing, a process known as hyperventilation. This hyperventilation leads to a decrease in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the blood, causing a rise in pH and resulting in respiratory alkalosis.

Understanding this relationship is crucial for recognizing how altitude affects respiratory function and overall acid-base balance. Other factors listed, such as obesity, chronic bronchitis, and sleep apnea, do not typically result in increased ventilation; in fact, they often lead to reduced respiratory function or hypoventilation, which could increase carbon dioxide levels instead. Thus, high altitude is the most relevant factor for the increase in ventilation that leads to respiratory alkalosis.