Hyperventilation Syndrome

What is hyperventilation syndrome?

Hyperventilation syndrome is a condition brought on by rapid, shallow breathing. It can cause fainting. Hyperventilation can be very alarming because it can appear to be a different, more serious problem, such as an asthma attack or stroke.

How does it occur?

The rapid, shallow breathing of hyperventilation most often occurs when you are anxious or emotionally upset. You are rarely even aware that you are breathing rapidly.

When you breathe rapidly, you exhale a lot more carbon dioxide than normal. This loss of too much carbon dioxide affects your nervous system, including your brain, and causes the symptoms of hyperventilation.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of hyperventilation usually progress as follows:

• shortness of breath or an inability to take a deep breath
• numbness and tingling of the skin (in the hands or around the mouth)
• lightheadedness
• spasms of hands and feet, occasionally
• fainting.

How is it diagnosed?

The diagnosis of hyperventilation depends on several factors, including how well your health care provider knows you, your age, and especially your overall medical condition.

Your medical history is important. Your health care provider will probably ask:

• How long have you had the symptoms? How frequently have they occurred in the past?
• Did you have any other symptoms just before you hyperventilated, such as a cough (especially coughing up blood)?
• Do you have any other medical problems?
• Are you taking any medicines?
• What events occurred at the time you hyperventilated? Were these events emotionally upsetting?

If you are having symptoms when you see your health care provider, you may have tests to check the level of oxygen in your blood. Usually this is done by placing a pulse oximeter on your ear or finger. Sometimes a sample of blood is tested for levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Your provider may ask for a chest x-ray to make sure that you do not have any other chest or lung problems.

How is it treated?

The treatment for hyperventilation is simple. All you need to do is rebreathe carbon dioxide to get your body's oxygen/carbon dioxide balance back to normal. You can do this by closing your mouth and breathing slowly through your nose. Or for faster results, hold a paper bag tightly around your mouth and breathe in and out several times into the bag until you feel better.

How can hyperventilation be prevented?

If you tend to hyperventilate, make sure you know the symptoms. If you can recognize the symptoms early, you can relax and slow down your breathing before you hyperventilate.

If you are hyperventilating more often or it is getting worse, seeing a counselor might help. A counselor can help you identify and treat the emotional problem that might be causing you to hyperventilate.