Gourt > Health > Conditions and Diseases > Respiratory Disorders > Hyperventilation
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
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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.
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