|
McKesson Clinical Reference Systems: Women's Health Advisor 2002.2
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.
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 medications?
- What events occurred at the time you hyperventilated?
Were these events emotionally upsetting?
Your health care provider may do 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 health care 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.
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, it is getting worse,
and you have no other physical medical problems that could
be causing it, seeing a counselor might help. A counselor
can help you identify and treat the emotional problem that
might be causing you to hyperventilate.
|