Hyperventilation

Overview

Even the most calm and composed people experience hyperventilation at some point in time. Your symptoms will begin with a feeling of extreme stress. You might then begin to breathe more rapidly and deeply, and you may experience tightness in your chest. The rapid breathing reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in your blood, and you may experience an accelerated heartbeat which will cause additional shortness of breath. You might gasp for air at a faster rate. People will feel numbness and tingling in the extremities and might even experience a fainting spell.

Types

There are two types of hyperventilation:

• Acute Hyperventilation - This occurs during exciting or stressful situations. An adrenaline rush might cause acute hyperventilation.
• Chronic Hyperventilation - If your breathing does not return to normal after a period of stressful events, the symptoms may continue and result in chronic hyperventilation.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hyperventilation may last up to 20 or 30 minutes. Steps should be taken to bring breathing under control. When hyperventilating, you should sit down, lean forward, and place your head between your knees. Concentrate on taking deep and steady breaths. Breathing into a paper bag can help resupply the body with essential carbon dioxide.

You might experience additional symptoms such as nervousness, feelings of extreme uneasiness, frequent yawning and sighing. You might have trouble getting enough air into your lungs. You might also experience a racing or pounding heartbeat with problems balancing. You might feel light-headed, sweaty, bloated, chest pain, confusion, dizziness, dry mouth, headache, blurred or tunnel vision, and you may feel an urge to belch. Take steps to calm down and to take deep, steady, and regular breaths. If repeated episodes occur, you will need to consult a physician.

Cause/Risk Factors

Hyperventilation may be caused by extreme emotional stress, anxiety, fever, medications, and even intense exercise. Other risk factors include cardiac disorders, infections, sepsis head injuries, asthma, and emphysema. People who suffer panic disorders and lung diseases are more likely to experience episodes of hyperventilation.

Tests/Diagnosis

The following tests can diagnose episodes of hyperventilation:

• Arterial Blood Samples
• Other Blood Tests
• Chest X-rays
• Ventilation/Perfusion Scans
• Chest CT Scans
• ECG (Heart Tracing)

Treatment

You will need to treat hyperventilation based on the cause. Hyperventilation may indicate a more serious medical problem, and you should seek medical help if you experience frequent episodes.

A person should take steps to reduce stress. Consistently practicing deep breathing might also help. You should also be able to recognize warning signs before episodes of hyperventilation occur. Take all steps possible to make sure that you are safe during an attack.

You might need to undergo psychiatric care or take precautionary medications like antidepressants or asthma medications.