Hyperventilation is abnormally rapid, deep breathing. It occurs most often when anxiety or emotional stress stimulates the part of the brain that regulates breathing. In this circumstance, it is rarely a serious medical problem. However, illnesses, such as kidney failure and diabetes, may also trigger hyperventilation.
During hyperventilation, a person exhales excess carbon dioxide. As the level of carbon dioxide in the blood drops, the blood vessels narrow, allowing less blood to circulate. If too little blood reaches the brain, the person feels dizzy and may faint. The calcium in the blood also decreases, causing some muscles and nerves to twitch. The twitching may result in a tingling or stabbing sensation near the mouth or in the chest.
Some symptoms of hyperventilation resemble certain heart or lung ailments. These symptoms include a tight feeling in the chest, as though the lungs cannot receive enough air. This sensation can lead to faster and deeper breathing. The heart may begin to pound, and the pulse rate may rise. Such symptoms increase a person’s anxiety, which can make the hyperventilation worse.
A hyperventilation attack may last 30 minutes or longer. People who hyperventilate can help control attacks by trying to slow their breathing rate when symptoms appear. They also can exhale into a paper bag and rebreathe the exhaled air to restore carbon dioxide levels in the body.
