Stunning blue topaz, tourmaline, and red spinel jewelry has graced royal collections and red-carpet events. Today, only four gems bear the precious label: diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires; that was not always the case. The concept of precious and semi-precious gems is a fluid one.
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.
(See Pathogenesis of metabolic alkalosis and Clinical manifestations and evaluation of metabolic alkalosis and Treatment of metabolic alkalosis.) INTRACELLULAR SHIFT OF HYDROGEN. Metabolic alkalosis can be generated by a shift of hydrogen ions into the cells. This most often occurs in patients with potassium deficits and hypokalemia. This may be an important pathophysiologic mechanism in patients with metabolic alkalosis due to vomiting or nasogastric suction [7].