You suffer from hyperventilation when you breathe deeper and more rapidly than normal. This decreases the amount of carbon dioxide in your blood. This can lead you to feel shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and rapid heartbeat.
Are you sure you want to log out?
You suffer from hyperventilation when you breathe deeper and more rapidly than normal. This decreases the amount of carbon dioxide in your blood. This can lead you to feel shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and rapid heartbeat.
Emotional stress, anxiety, some medicines, fever, and intense exercises can cause sudden hyperventilation. 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. Women experience this condition more often compared to men.
You may suffer from acute hyperventilation or chronic (recurring) hyperventilation. Acute hyperventilation is usually caused due to acute stress or emotional upset. 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.
Hyperventilation is a term most commonly used if you have rapid or fast deep breathing and over-breathing.
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 you may experience symptoms related to it. You may experience the following symptoms when the CO2 levels in your blood reduce due to hyperventilation:
You may experience serious symptoms from this condition, and when you do, get medical help immediately. Some of the serious symptoms include:
Ensure you get medical help immediately as over-breathing can be life-threatening.
You may have medical or emotional factors that can cause hyperventilation, such as:
There are several factors that increase the risk of developing hyperventilation. However, you must know that not all people with these following factors will get over-breathing:
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 the symptoms of over-breathing, your doctor might try causing over-breathing by telling you to breathe in a certain way. Your doctor will then watch how you breathe and check which muscles you are using to breathe.
To rule out this condition, your doctor may recommend the following tests:
Your doctor may recommend treatment depending on your hyperventilation test results.
They may plan a treatment option based on your condition. Your doctor may recommend:
You 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 suggest acupuncture to effectively treat hyperventilation syndrome. In acupuncture, the expert inserts thin needles in certain areas of your body, commonly called as points. This can help reduce anxiety and severity of over-breathing.
Ensure you follow the treatment suggested by your doctor. In case you feel the treatment is not helping in resolving the condition, contact your doctor immediately.
Your doctor may suggest a few lifestyle changes for hyperventilation such as:
Remember, these tips and techniques may help you to slow down your fast breathing and bring them back to normal. If these tips and techniques do not help you, inform your doctor immediately.
It is important that you consult your doctor before using these above-mentioned techniques and tips to treat over-breathing.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Comments
Share your thoughts
Be the first to let Hello Doctor know your thoughts!
Join Us or Log In to join the discussion