Metabolic acidosis happens when the body is already producing too much quantities of acid or when kidneys are not working enough to remove the excess acid from the body. Hence, for this to be compensated, it was Kussmaul who determined that hyperventilation is the answer. When we hyperventilate, it has been noted that this decreases the arterial pCO2 (partial carbon dioxide), which is the primary element included in acidosis, as tend to excrete the excess carbon dioxide we have in the body resulting to acid-base balance.
