| Hyperventilation | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Overbreathing |
| Specialty | Pulmonology |
| Symptoms | Rapid breathing to the point where the body eliminates more carbon dioxide than it can produce |
| Complications | Fainting |
Hyperventilation is irregularbreathing that occurs when the rate ortidal volume ofbreathing eliminates morecarbon dioxide than the body can produce.[1][2][3] This leads tohypocapnia, a reduced concentration of carbon dioxide dissolved in the blood. The body normally attempts to compensate for thishomeostatically, but if this fails or is overridden, theblood pH will rise, leading torespiratory alkalosis. This increases theaffinity of oxygen to hemoglobin and makes it harder for oxygen to be released into body tissues from the blood. The symptoms of respiratory alkalosis include dizziness, tingling in the lips, hands, or feet, headache, weakness, fainting, and seizures. In extreme cases, it may causecarpopedal spasms, a flapping and contraction of the hands and feet.[3][4]
Factors that may induce or sustain[2] hyperventilation include:physiological stress,anxiety orpanic disorder,high altitude, head injury, stroke, respiratory disorders such asasthma,pneumonia, orhyperventilation syndrome,[5] cardiovascular problems such aspulmonary embolisms,anemia, an incorrectly calibratedmedical respirator,[1][3] and adverse reactions to certain drugs. Hyperventilation can also be induced intentionally to achieve an altered state of consciousness such as in thechoking game, duringbreathwork, or in an attempt to extend abreath-hold dive.
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