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 SearchIm either dying.. or this is some sort of hyperventilation from the match.kerriewilkinson (Kerrie Wilkinson) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:41:10 -0000
Im either dying.. or this is some sort of hyperventilation from the match.
@ILoveLuna Haha, indeed, and then we'd be put into a small, puffy room, and there would be more hyperventilation. :SAmberitto0379 (Amber Horvath) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:34:14 -0000
@ILoveLuna Haha, indeed, and then we'd be put into a small, puffy room, and there would be more hyperventilation. :S
@MrSaturdayy my ribs were broken and i barely could breathe, my breathing was like hyperventilation and i waited 3 1/2 hours.morgangrr (morgan mattern) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:37:08 -0000
@MrSaturdayy my ribs were broken and i barely could breathe, my breathing was like hyperventilation and i waited 3 1/2 hours.
Can people cause panic attacks/hyperventilation? I think someone just did. Deep breaths Hannah, deep breaths. #fbMadameMirage (Hannah Thorne) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:54:18 -0000
Can people cause panic attacks/hyperventilation? I think someone just did. Deep breaths Hannah, deep breaths. #fb
@khyrinthia Where the heck is my hyperventilation bag?thedreamereader (Catt) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:53:00 -0000
@khyrinthia Where the heck is my hyperventilation bag?
I can access last week's episode just fine. *dramatic hyperventilation sequence that is not really taking place*gacktsdisciple (Lenore Nevermore) Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:35:59 -0000
I can access last week's episode just fine. *dramatic hyperventilation sequence that is not really taking place*
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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.