Hyperventilation

Hyperventilation literally means "overbreathing." Hyperventilation is a manner of breathing in which the respirations become rapid and deep, causing an individual to exhale too much carbon dioxide. In fact, the low carbon dioxide levels in the body account for many of the symptoms of hyperventilation.

Hyperventilation is often the result of fear or anxiety and is more likely to occur in people who are tense and nervous. It is also caused by serious organic conditions such as diabetic coma, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, head injuries, high fever, and aspirin poisoning.

In addition to rapid and deep respirations, the signs and symptoms of hyperventilation include dizziness, faintness. light-headedness, visual disturbances, chest pain, tachycardia, palpitations, fullness in the throat, and numbness and tingling of the fingers, toes, and the area around the mouth. Despite their rapid breathing efforts, patients complain that they cannot get enough air. They often think they are having a heart attack.

Treatment for hyperventilation caused by emotional factors is as follows: Calm and reassure the patient, and encourage him or her to slow the respirations, thereby allowing the carbon dioxide level to return to normal. In the past, breathing into a paper bag was advocated as a remedy for hyperventilation. Recent studies no longer recommend this practice because it could be harmful if an underlying medical condition exists or if the patient is not actually hyperventilating. If the medical assistant suspects that hyperventilation has been caused by an organic problem, the emergency medical services should be activated immediately.