Written By: Mita Majumdar | Updated : September 25, 2014 4:29 PM IST
Hyperventilation is a condition when you breathe deeper and more rapid than normal. It is more common in women than men and in people between 15 to 55 years of age. It is also most commonly associated with panic attacks.
We breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. During hyperventilation, we tend to breathe excessively, that is, we over-breathe and this leaves us breathless. This increases the removal of carbon dioxide from the blood, so the carbon dioxide pressure inside the blood decreases causing a condition called respiratory alkalosis where the blood becomes more alkaline. Alkalosis further causes the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain to constrict. And reduced blood supply to the brain causes symptoms such as
These are thus the symptoms of hyperventilation. Severe hyperventilation can even cause loss of consciousness.
So why do we get hyperventilated in the first place? Scientists believe hyperventilation is more of a consequence rather than a cause of certain diseases or conditions. And treatment will depend on what's causing your hyperventilation. Let's take a look at some of them.
Anxiety or panic disorder
Anxiety and panic disorder which is a severe form of anxiety, is probably the most common cause of hyperventilation. This type of hyperventilation is called acute or sudden hyperventilation. The two almost form a vicious cycle, in the sense, anxiety can lead to hyperventilation, and this rapid breathing can make you panic. Anxiety is also accompanied by faster heart rate, sweating, trembling and dizziness. You may also feel the need to pee frequently or you may have a problem with swallowing. Dry mouth and loose stools are also common symptoms of anxiety and panic.
Treatment:
Heart failure and heart attack
Heart failure, a chronic condition in which your heart is no longer able to pump out oxygen-rich blood, can cause you to hyperventilate. But this type of hyperventilation is called chronic hyperventilation. You can have heart failure if your high blood pressure is not well controlled or if you have coronary artery disease wherein the blood vessels supplying blood to the heart become narrow.
When the fluid builds up in the lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract and extremities because of the heart failure, the condition is called congestive heart failure. Heart attack, arrhythmias, and certain infections involving the heart muscles can also cause heart failure.
Symptoms include hyperventilation, shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, palpitations, loss of appetite, enlarged liver or abdomen, swollen hands and feet, and sometimes weight gain.
Treatment:
Lung disease
Lung disease such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary embolism are some of the common lung diseases that cause chronic hyperventilation.
Asthma This disease is caused by inflammation in the airways in which the airways of the lungs swell and narrow. Symptoms include cough, wheezing, hyperventilation, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, anxiety, and sweating.
Treatment:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) This is a disease where you have long-term cough with mucus (chronic bronchitis) mostly in combination with emphysema which gradually destroys your lungs. Smoking, second hand smoke and pollution are the leading cause of COPD.
Symptoms include hyperventilation that involves shortness of breath even with mild activity and difficulty catching your breath, wheezing, cough, and respiratory infections.
There is no cure for COPD. You need to control it with proper diet, avoiding cold air and reducing pollution. To relieve symptoms you may have to go in for medications.
Treatment:
Pulmonary embolus Any embolus is a blockage of artery because of blood clot, tumor cells or fat. When the blockage is in the artery leading to the lungs it is called pulmonary embolus.
Symptoms are chest pain, sudden cough where you may cough out blood, and hyperventilation in the form of rapid breathing, fast heart rate, and sudden onset of shortness of breath. Anxiety, sweating, and wheezing are other symptoms that you could experience.
Treatment: Pulmonary embolus is an emergency situation that needs hospitalization. You will be given clot dissolving medication and then blood thinners to prevent formation of new clots.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of the lung by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. COPD, smoking, brain disorders, immune system problems, or sometimes even a surgery can increase the chances of being infected by pneumonia.
Symptoms:
Treatment:
Ketoacidosis
Ketoacidosis is a condition in which your body cannot use sugar as fuel (energy source) because of insufficient or no insulin. During such cases, the body fat break down to supply the required fuel. This results in build-up of waste products called ketones. Ketoacidosis normally occurs in diabetics and is considered to be a life threatening condition.
Symptoms:
Treatment: The treatment requires hospitalization where the doctor will correct the high blood sugar level and/ or treat the infection causing ketoacidosis.
Other causes of hyperventilation
However, these diseases / conditions are not always the cause of hyperventilation. In most cases, hyperventilation is caused by
Home treatment for hyperventilation
If you are over-breathing due to stress, panic, anger or depression, (and this is the most common cause) try the following breathing techniques to control hyperventilation.
The purpose of these breathing techniques is to get more carbon dioxide circulating in your blood. If hyperventilation continues for 30 minutes, get medical help. Also get medical attention if you are hyperventilating for the first time, or if you have fever, bleeding or pain.
Russian scientists suggested a number of methods to treat hyperventilation. Among them are psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, remedial gymnastics, and correction of respiratory disorders. The correction of respiratory disorders are done through biofeedback mechanism, recurrent respiration, or carbon dioxide inhalation.
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of stress.
Reference:
You may also like to read:
For more articles on anxiety, stress and heart disease, visit our anxiety, stress and heart diseasesection. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.
