Hyperventilation
Hyperventilation is a condition in which the person loses control of their breathing and begins to breathe too fast, disrupting the oxygen in and carbon dioxide out ratio. Hyperventilation causes the person to exhale more than they inhale, leading to a rapid reduction in carbon dioxide in the body. Low carbon dioxide levels cause narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain.
This reduction in blood supply to the brain leads to symptoms like light-headedness and tingling in the fingers. Severe hyperventilation can result in loss of consciousness.
For some people, hyperventilation is rare, occurring as an occasional, panicked response to fear or stress. For others, it can be more frequent, triggered by phobias or heightened emotional states such as depression, anxiety, or anger, which can resemble a panic attack. When hyperventilation occurs frequently, it is referred to as hyperventilation syndrome.
Common Causes of Hyperventilation
In addition to fear and stress, many factors can lead to hyperventilation, including:
- Bleeding
- Use of stimulants
- Drug overdose (e.g., aspirin overdose)
- Severe pain
- Pregnancy
- Infection in the lungs
- Lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma
- Heart conditions, such as a heart attack
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (a complication of high blood sugar in people with type 1 diabetes)
- Head injuries
- Traveling to elevations over 6,000 feet
- Hyperventilation syndrome
Symptoms of Hyperventilation
Hyperventilation can be a serious issue. Symptoms can last 20 to 30 minutes and may include:
- Light-headedness
- Shortness of breath
- Being unable to get enough breath in
- Chest discomfort
- A feeling of panic and impending death
- Blurred vision
- Tingling of fingers, toes, and lips
- Palpitations
- A feeling of detachment or not being in full control of the body (depersonalisation)
Signs of Hyperventilation
- Rapid breathing
- Occasional deep, sighing breaths
- Rapid pulse
- Altered level of consciousness, e.g., fainting
- Hand and finger spasm (carpo-pedal spasm) in advanced attacks – the fingers and wrists become claw-like with the thumb held stiffly across the palm
Assisting Someone Who Is Hyperventilating
When assisting someone experiencing hyperventilation, you can guide them through these techniques:
- Breathe through pursed lips.
- Breathe slowly into cupped hands.
- Attempt to breathe into their belly (diaphragm) rather than their chest.
- Ask them to hold their breath for 10 to 15 seconds at a time while you count.
- Guide them through grounding exercises such as the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method by asking them to identify:
- 5 things they can see
- 4 things they can feel
- 3 things they can hear
- 2 things they can smell
- 1 thing they can taste