In medicine, hyperventilation (or hyperpnea) is the state of breathing faster or deeper (hyper) than necessary, and thereby reducing the carbon dioxide concentration of the blood below normal. This causes various symptoms such as numbness or tingling in the hands, feet and lips, lightheadedness, dizziness, headache, chest pain, slurred speech and sometimes fainting.
The related symptom tachypnea (or "tachypnoea") (Greek: "rapid breathing") is characterized by rapid breathing and is not identical with hyperventilation - tachypnea may be necessary for a sufficient gas-exchange of the body, for example after exercise, in which case it is not hyperventilation.
Causes
Stress or anxiety commonly cause hyperventilation; this is known as
hyperventilation syndrome.
Hyperventilation can be brought about voluntarily, by taking excessive deep breaths. Hyperventilation also occurs as a consequence of various
lung diseases, head injury or
stroke (
central neurogenic hyperventilation,
apneustic respirations,
ataxic respiration,
Cheyne-Stokes respirations or
Biot's respiration), or when the body lacks
oxygen (
hypoxia), for instance in high altitude or as a result of
anaemia. It may also occur as a result of
sepsis, and is usually a sign of the beginning of
refractory sepsis.
Lastly, in the case of metabolic
acidosis, the body uses hyperventilation to counter the increased acidity of the blood; this is known as
Kussmaul breathing.
More on
[ Hyperventilation ]
Neurological Disorders
Anxiety :: Disorders
Hyperventilation - Twitter Searchhyperventilation + parental freak out = 3 hours wasted in ER waiting room. #healthfailcklassen (Court Klassen) Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:09:23 -0000
hyperventilation + parental freak out = 3 hours wasted in ER waiting room. #healthfail
@mspiratesocks @ chaddy ms gasp and i suffered "itchy eyes, skin and hyperventilation" and demanded immediate return to our natural habitat.palin_drome (Anna Wooley) Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:48:45 -0000
@mspiratesocks @ chaddy ms gasp and i suffered "itchy eyes, skin and hyperventilation" and demanded immediate return to our natural habitat.
Oh Chadstone. I expected flurries of orgiastic consumption... All I felt was slight hyperventilation. And annoyance at slow travelator folk.mspiratesocks (nanita tansita) Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:56:13 -0000
Oh Chadstone. I expected flurries of orgiastic consumption... All I felt was slight hyperventilation. And annoyance at slow travelator folk.
@Milliexo but she's lost the love of her life,she's entitled to slight hyperventilationJake_E (Jake Edwards) Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:05:12 -0000
@Milliexo but she's lost the love of her life,she's entitled to slight hyperventilation
Oh dear god i do not have twitter on my phone! Hyperventilation moment!Fatmamax (Fatima Al-Kassab) Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:42:39 -0000
Oh dear god i do not have twitter on my phone! Hyperventilation moment!
This year, give the gift of hyperventilation. http://lexusofakron.com The Lexus December to Remember Sales Event http://lexusofakron.comlexusofakron (âLexusofAkron-Canton) Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:07:48 -0000
This year, give the gift of hyperventilation. http://lexusofakron.com The Lexus December to Remember Sales Event http://lexusofakron.com
Subscribe to Hyperventilation RSS feed 
eMedicine Health - Hyperventilation - Consumer health resource center providing information on the causes, symptoms, and treatment.
Meta Description: [ Hyperventilation is breathing in excess of what the body needs. This is sometimes called overbreathing. Rapid or deep breathing is sometimes seen in very serious conditions such as infection, bleeding, ... ]
Physiotherapy for Hyperventilation - Information and contacts about hyperventilation compiled and maintained by chartered physiotherapists specialised in the management of breathing pattern disorders.
Meta Description: [ Information and contacts about hyperventilation compiled and maintained by chartered physiotherapists specialised in the management of breathing pattern disorders. ]
Rapid breathing - Discourse on this disorder in the MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia.