2026 HOSA Nutrition Practice Test – Complete Exam Prep

When the body has excess base or loses acids, the blood becomes more basic and its pH rises—that's alkalosis. There are two main ways this imbalance happens. Metabolic alkalosis occurs when there’s an excess of base or a loss of hydrogen ions, such as from vomiting or certain diuretics, leading to higher bicarbonate levels and a higher pH. Respiratory alkalosis happens when breathing is too rapid, blowing off too much carbon dioxide, which also raises pH; the body may compensate over time by adjusting kidney function to excrete more bicarbonate. The important idea is that alkalosis reflects a state of too little acidity or too much base in the body.

The other conditions listed aren’t primarily about acid-base balance. Anemia involves too few red blood cells or hemoglobin and affects oxygen transport. Angina pectoris is chest pain from reduced blood flow to the heart. Arteriosclerosis is the hardening and narrowing of arteries. These relate to circulation and oxygen delivery rather than the body’s acid-base status.