If you suffer from hyperventilation, you breathe deeper and more rapidly than normal. This decreases the amount of carbon dioxide in your blood. Hence, it can lead you to feel shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and rapid heartbeat.
What Is Hyperventilation?
Hyperventilation is a term most commonly used if you have rapid or fast deep breathing and over-breathing. And its causes include emotional stress, anxiety, some medicines, fever, and intense exercises. You may experience this condition due to an asthma attack, emphysema, or head injury. Most commonly, this condition is seen in people who breathe shallowly, have any health conditions, or are tense and nervous.
People who are at risk of developing this condition are individuals between 15 and 55 years of age. Interestingly, women experience this condition more often compared to men.
You may suffer from either acute hyperventilation or chronic (recurring) hyperventilation. Acute hyperventilation is usually caused by acute stress or emotional upset. Meanwhile, chronic hyperventilation may be an ongoing issue for you if you have health conditions like lung cancer, asthma, or emphysema.
Many women experience this condition during their pregnancy, but it usually goes away after delivery.
Symptoms
You may experience hyperventilation when you have little carbon dioxide in your blood. In many cases, you may not be aware of it but sometimes experience the symptoms related to it. You may experience the following symptoms when the CO2 levels in your blood reduce due to hyperventilation:
- Numbness or tingling (paresthesia)
- Lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath or rapid breathing (tachypnea)
- Belching
- Difficulty sleeping
- Weakness (loss of strength)
- Chest pain
- Abdominal bloating
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Palpitations
You may experience serious symptoms from this condition. And when you do, get medical help immediately. Some of the serious symptoms include:
- Severe pain
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Fever
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Chest pain
- Muscle spasms
Ensure you get medical help immediately as hyperventilation can be life-threatening.
Causes
You may have medical or emotional factors that can cause hyperventilation, such as:
Medical factors of hyperventilation
- Ketoacidosis and similar medical conditions
- Drug overdose
- Infection such as pneumonia or sepsis
- Pregnancy
- Bleeding
- Heart ailments
- Lung diseases such as asthma, COPD, or pulmonary embolism
- Stimulant medicines
- Severe pain
Emotional factors
- Panic attack
- Anxiety and nervousness
- Stress
Risk Factors
There are several factors that increase the risk of having an episode of hyperventilation. However, you must know that not all people with these following factors will get experience it:
- Family medical history of anxiety or panic attacks
- Panic disorder such as phobia
- Certain medications
- Family history of anxiety or panic attacks
- Stress
Diagnosis
When you experience the symptoms of hyperventilation, you must visit your doctor’s clinic immediately. Ensure you are not starting any medication or remedy without consulting your doctor.
In your doctor’s clinic, your doctor will perform a physical examination and ask questions related to your health, symptoms you experience and overall lifestyle.
Your doctor may also check your breathing. If your doctor does not see its symptoms, your doctor might try causing hyperventilation by telling you to breathe in a certain way. Your doctor will then watch how you breathe and check which muscles you are using when breathing.
To rule out this condition, your doctor may recommend the following tests:
- ECG to check your heart
- Ventilation/perfusion scan to check the blood flow to your heart muscles
- X-rays of the chest
- Chest CT scan
- Blood tests to check the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood
Treatment
Your doctor may recommend treatment depending on your hyperventilation test results. Based on your condition, they may plan a treatment option such as the following:
- Stress recognition
- Physical coping strategies
- Breathing retraining
- Postural and upper chest musculoskeletal balancing
- Medications like anti-anxiolytics/muscle relaxants if indicated
- A graduated fitness regimen/lifestyle appraisal
- Counselling for anxiety and depression if required
- Upper respiratory health assessment
- Sleep hygiene
It may take approximately six to eight weeks to change an established pattern from dysfunctional breathing back to normal. Depending on your condition, your doctor may recommend breathing exercises such as pursed-lip breathing. In this, you will be asked to hold your breath for short periods. This exercise can help slow down your breathing.
Your doctor may also suggest acupuncture to effectively treat hyperventilation syndrome. In acupuncture, the expert inserts thin needles in certain areas of your body, commonly called as acupoints. This can help reduce anxiety and severity of hyperventilation.
Ensure you follow the treatment suggested by your doctor. And in case you feel the treatment is not helping in resolving the condition, contact your doctor immediately.
