Hyperventilation is rapid or deep breathing that can occur with anxiety or panic. It is also called overbreathing, and may leave you feeling breathless.
See also: Rapid shallow breathing
Alternative NamesRapid deep breathing; Breathing - rapid and deep; Overbreathing; Fast deep breathing; Respiratory rate - rapid and deep
ConsiderationsWhen you breathe, you inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Excessive breathing leads to low levels of carbon dioxide in your blood. This causes many of the symptoms you may feel if you hyperventilate.
Feeling very anxious or having a panic attack are the usual reasons that you may hyperventilate. However, rapid breathing may be a symptom of a disease, such as:
Your doctor will determine the cause of your hyperventilation. Rapid breathing may be a medical emergency -- unless you have experienced this before and have been reassured by your doctor that your hyperventilation can be self treated.
Often, panic and hyperventilation become a vicious cycle. Panic leads to rapid breathing, and breathing rapidly can make you feel panicked.
If you frequently overbreathe, you may have hyperventilation syndrome that is triggered by emotions of stress, anxiety, depression, or anger. Occasional hyperventilation from panic is generally related to a specific fear or phobia, such as a fear of heights, dying, or closed-in spaces (claustrophobia).
If you have hyperventilation syndrome, you might not be aware you are breathing fast. However, you will be aware of having many of the other symptoms, including:
Your doctor will look for other medical illnesses before diagnosing hyperventilation syndrome.
If your doctor has explained that you hyperventilate from anxiety, stress, or panic, there are steps you can take at home. You, your friends, and family can learn techniques to stop you from hyperventilating when it happens and to prevent future attacks.
If you start hyperventilating, the goal is to raise the carbon dioxide level in your blood, which will put an end to most of your symptoms. There are several ways to do this:
Over the long term, there are several important steps to help you stop overbreathing:
If these methods alone are not preventing your overbreathing, your doctor may recommend a beta blocker medication.
Call your health care provider ifCall your health care provider if:
Your doctor will perform a careful physical examination.
To get your medical history, your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms, such as:
The doctor will assess how rapidly you are breathing at the time of the visit. If you are not breathing quickly, the physician may try to induce hyperventilation by instructing you to breathe a certain way.
While you hyperventilate, the doctor will ask how you feel and watch how you breathe -- including what muscles you are using in your chest wall and surrounding areas.
Tests that may be performed include:
Duffin J, Phillipson EA. Hypoventilation and hyperventilation syndromes. In: Mason RJ, Broaddus CV, Martin TR, et al. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 78.
Winter AO, Purcell TB. Somatoform disorders. In: Marx JA, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 111.
Hyperventilation is rapid or deep breathing that can occur with anxiety or panic. It is also called overbreathing, and may leave you feeling breathless.
See also: Rapid shallow breathing
Alternative NamesRapid deep breathing; Breathing - rapid and deep; Overbreathing; Fast deep breathing; Respiratory rate - rapid and deep
ConsiderationsWhen you breathe, you inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Excessive breathing leads to low levels of carbon dioxide in your blood. This causes many of the symptoms you may feel if you hyperventilate.
Feeling very anxious or having a panic attack are the usual reasons that you may hyperventilate. However, rapid breathing may be a symptom of a disease, such as:
Your doctor will determine the cause of your hyperventilation. Rapid breathing may be a medical emergency -- unless you have experienced this before and have been reassured by your doctor that your hyperventilation can be self treated.
Often, panic and hyperventilation become a vicious cycle. Panic leads to rapid breathing, and breathing rapidly can make you feel panicked.
If you frequently overbreathe, you may have hyperventilation syndrome that is triggered by emotions of stress, anxiety, depression, or anger. Occasional hyperventilation from panic is generally related to a specific fear or phobia, such as a fear of heights, dying, or closed-in spaces (claustrophobia).
If you have hyperventilation syndrome, you might not be aware you are breathing fast. However, you will be aware of having many of the other symptoms, including:
Your doctor will look for other medical illnesses before diagnosing hyperventilation syndrome.
If your doctor has explained that you hyperventilate from anxiety, stress, or panic, there are steps you can take at home. You, your friends, and family can learn techniques to stop you from hyperventilating when it happens and to prevent future attacks.
If you start hyperventilating, the goal is to raise the carbon dioxide level in your blood, which will put an end to most of your symptoms. There are several ways to do this:
Over the long term, there are several important steps to help you stop overbreathing:
If these methods alone are not preventing your overbreathing, your doctor may recommend a beta blocker medication.
Call your health care provider ifCall your health care provider if:
Your doctor will perform a careful physical examination.
To get your medical history, your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms, such as:
The doctor will assess how rapidly you are breathing at the time of the visit. If you are not breathing quickly, the physician may try to induce hyperventilation by instructing you to breathe a certain way.
While you hyperventilate, the doctor will ask how you feel and watch how you breathe -- including what muscles you are using in your chest wall and surrounding areas.
Tests that may be performed include:
Duffin J, Phillipson EA. Hypoventilation and hyperventilation syndromes. In: Mason RJ, Broaddus CV, Martin TR, et al. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 78.
Winter AO, Purcell TB. Somatoform disorders. In: Marx JA, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 111.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 07/22/2010
Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Tidal volume increased.
decrease in blood CO2 concentration and a rise in pH
Hyperventilation. Skin (especially around the finger nails and lips) starts to turn blue/purple. Dizziness. Eventually loss of consciousness.
Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation) or slowly (hyperventilation) are ways the body may become unbalanced or attempt to compensate an imbalanced blood pH. The blood's normal pH is 7.35-7.45. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is acts to acidify the blood (lower the pH). Therefore, hyperventilating (deceasing the CO2 contained in the blood) increases blood pH. Inversely, hypoventilation creates a decline in blood pH.
Hyperventilation causes 'Decrease' in carbon bi oxide level in blood. It causes, what is called as 'Respiratory alkalosis'. Symptoms are dizziness, light headedness and numbness of the hands and feet. If patient continue to hyperventilate, she lands up in a condition called 'Tetany' witch is common in females, as they are socially discriminated. In Tetany, patient's thumb get typically 'Inward' and she may land up in fits. If you willfully do hyperventilation, you will fall down, without your knowledge and may get head injury and die.
You have correctly spelled hyperventilation.
Tachypnea
They are not the same. Hyperventilation can be a symptom of anxiety.
Yes, hyperventilation is can cause dead things.
Yes, chest tightness can be due to hyperventilation. More specifically is it due to Hyperventilation Syndrome which is a respiratory disorder caused by the psyche.
Some sort of psychological stress can trigger hyperventilation syndrome.
Hyperventilation is breathing that is more rapid and deeper than usual. It can be caused by emotional or physical stimuli. Hyperventilation leads to respiratory alkalosis.
As a sufferer of hyperventilation I would say it does. Not massively though but you can feel the difference.
Hyperventilation raises body pH. Hypoventilation lowers body pH.
No, hyperventilation means increased rate and depth of breathing.
hyperventilation
Hyperventilation which often occurs with panic attacks does not cause death. Hyperventilation can cause fainting due to too much carbon dioxide in the blood. This is why it is recommended to breathe into a paper sack.