What electrolyte imbalance is commonly seen with hyperventilation?

Hyperventilation can lead to a respiratory alkalosis, which is characterized by a decrease in carbon dioxide levels in the blood due to increased breathing rate. This shift in pH can cause various physiological changes, including affecting calcium levels. In the context of respiratory alkalosis, there is often a decrease in ionized calcium because the increased pH promotes calcium binding to proteins, thereby decreasing the free (active) calcium in the serum. This condition manifests as hypocalcemia, which can lead to symptoms such as tingling sensations, muscle cramps, and even tetany.

The other choices do not typically correlate with hyperventilation in the same way. Hyperkalemia refers to elevated potassium levels and is often associated with conditions like renal failure or metabolic acidosis, rather than the alkalosis seen in hyperventilation. Hypernatremia involves elevated sodium levels, which can occur due to dehydration but is not directly tied to the respiratory changes seen with hyperventilation. Hypomagnesemia may occur in various clinical situations but is not a standard consequence of hyperventilation and does not correlate with the shifts in pH due to increased ventilation. Thus, hypocalcemia is the most relevant imbalance associated with hyperventilation.