Hyperventilation is rapid or deep breathing, usually caused by anxiety or panic. This overbreathing, as it is sometimes called, may actually leave you feeling breathless. When you breathe, you inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Excessive breathing may lead to low levels of carbon dioxide in your blood, which causes many of the symptoms that you may feel if you hyperventilate.
Hyperventilation is breathing in excess of what the body needs. This is sometimes called overbreathing. Rapid or deep breathing is sometimes seen in very serious conditions such as infection, bleeding, or heart attack. Hyperventilation syndrome is more specific and relates to an overbreathing pattern that
Hyperventilation Syndrome is not an uncommon disorder. The mechanisms that lead to the hyperventilation itself are not clear, though emotional distress/anxiety are amongst some of the provoking factors postulated. The hyperventilation leads to a decrease in carbon dioxide levels in the blood; with respect to neurological symptoms, a drop in blood carbon dioxide leads to a corresponding decrease in blood flow to the brain, which can in turn provoke events such as seizures.
Causes
Stress or anxiety commonly are causes of hyperventilation; this is known as hyperventilation syndrome. Hyperventilation can also be brought about voluntarily, by taking many deep breaths. Hyperventilation can also occur as a consequence of various lung diseases, head injury, or stroke (central neurogenic hyperventilation, apneustic respirations, ataxic respiration, Cheyne-Stokes respirations or Biot's respiration). Lastly, in the case of metabolic acidosis, the body uses hyperventilation as a compensatory mechanism to increased acidity of the blood. In the setting of Diabetic Ketoacidosis, this is known as Kussmaul breathing - characterized by long, deep breaths.
The commonest reason for increasing respiratory rate and depth is exercise, the extent depending upon the level of exercise. However, as this is a physiological response to a normal situation, it is inappropriate to call it hyperventilation.
Metabolic acidosis will cause compensatory hyperventilation. This may occur with diabetic ketoacidosis or with renal failure. Carbon dioxide is a very weak acid but the volume exchanged in a day makes it the most important contributor to acid base balance.
Signs & Symptoms
Your heart pounds.
It feels like you can't get enough air.
You feel tingling and numbness in the arms, legs, and around the mouth.
You feel a sense of doom.
You may pass out.
Hyperventilation Treatment
lf the casualty is otherwise uninjured, remove her from the scene of the accident to a quiet place where there is no audience. People who are hyperventilating often subconsciously react to onlookers, making themselves worse.
Once the doctor is sure that your diagnosis is hyperventilation syndrome and not something more serious, the doctor will arrange follow-up care with a psychiatrist or your primary care doctor. These doctors will teach you about the syndrome and what techniques may help control the attacks. Sometimes, usually after talking with your regular doctor, certain medications may be ordered. If your condition gets worse after visiting the emergency department, you should return for a recheck.
