Ok. "Death" may be a bit theatrical, but its not out of the question. Your blood needs to stay within a very narrow range of pH values for your body to function properly. This is around a pH value of 7.4. If the pH strays too much from that then problems arise. The two conditions in which the pH is either too high or too low are called alkalosis or acidocis. If not corrected, these conditions can lead to serious health issues, including, remotely, death.
The solubility of oxygen in blood is maximal when pH = 7.40 . And this pH is so finely tuned that the medical condition known as alkalosis occurs when the blood pH > 7.45. The body automatically compensates for any changes in pH by using a carbonic acid/bicarbonate buffering system; this is called acid-base homeostasis. A person whose body was unable to compensate quickly enough would probably begin to breath slower than normal (hypoventilate), as this will increase the carbonic acid concentration and lower the blood pH. Peripheral paresthesia (pins and needles, or "sleeping" arms/legs) are probably associated with localized, acute alkalosis.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Probably the enzymes in the blood would stop working and the cells wouldn't be able to get their nutrients.
"... what would one expect?" Death.
Ok. "Death" may be a bit theatrical, but its not out of the question. Your blood needs to stay within a very narrow range of pH values for your body to function properly. This is around a pH value of 7.4. If the pH strays too much from that then problems arise. The two conditions in which the pH is either too high or too low are called alkalosis or acidocis. If not corrected, these conditions can lead to serious health issues, including, remotely, death.
More about these conditions here: http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/condit...
The solubility of oxygen in blood is maximal when pH = 7.40 . And this pH is so finely tuned that the medical condition known as alkalosis occurs when the blood pH > 7.45. The body automatically compensates for any changes in pH by using a carbonic acid/bicarbonate buffering system; this is called acid-base homeostasis. A person whose body was unable to compensate quickly enough would probably begin to breath slower than normal (hypoventilate), as this will increase the carbonic acid concentration and lower the blood pH. Peripheral paresthesia (pins and needles, or "sleeping" arms/legs) are probably associated with localized, acute alkalosis.