Hyperventilation: Difference between revisions

| name = Hyperventilation

| synonyms = Overbreathing

| field = [[Pulmonology]]

| complications = [[Syncope (medicine)|Fainting]]<ref>[https://www.healthline.com/health/hyperventilation Hyperventilation: Causes, Treatments, and Prevention - Healthline]</ref>

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'''Hyperventilation''' is irregular [[breathing]] that occurs when the rate or [[tidal volume]] of [[breathing]] eliminates more [[carbon dioxide]] than the body can produce.<ref name=Guyton>{{cite book|last1=Guyton|first1=Arthur C.|authorlink1= Arthur Guyton |last2=Hall|first2=John E.|title=Textbook of medical physiology|date=2005|publisher=W.B. Saunders|location=Philadelphia|isbn=0-7216-0240-1|page=397|edition=11th}}</ref><ref name=Harrisons18th>{{cite book|last1=Longo|first1=Dan |display-authors=etal|title=Harrison's principles of internal medicine.|date=2012|publisher=McGraw-Hill|location=New York|isbn=978-0071748896|page=2185|edition=18th}}</ref><ref name=Brandis>{{cite book|last1=Brandis|first1=Kerry|title=Acid-base Physiology|date=30 AugAugust 2015|url=http://www.anaesthesiamcq.com/AcidBaseBook/ab6_2.php|format=Reviewed in 2006 by the American Thoracic Society|chapter=6.2 Respiratory Alkalosis - Causes}}</ref> This leads to [[hypocapnia]], a reduced concentration of carbon dioxide dissolved in the blood. The body normally attempts to compensate for this [[Homeostasis|homeostatically]], but if this fails or is overridden, the [[pH#Living systems|blood pH]] will rise, leading to [[respiratory alkalosis]]. The symptoms of respiratory alkalosis include: dizziness, tingling in the lips, hands, or feet, headache, weakness, fainting, and seizures. In extreme cases, it may cause carpopedal [[tetany|spasms]], a flapping and contraction of the hands and feet.<ref name=Brandis/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Byrd, Jr|first1=Ryland P Jr.|title=Respiratory Alkalosis: Background, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology|url=http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/301680-clinica|publisher=eMedicine|date=5 August 2016}}</ref>

Factors that may induce or sustain<ref name=Harrisons18th/> hyperventilation include: [[Stress (biology)|physiological stress]], [[anxiety]] or [[panic disorder]], [[Altitude sickness|high altitude]], head injury, [[stroke]], respiratory disorders such as [[asthma]], [[pneumonia]], or [[hyperventilation syndrome]],<ref name="Edward Newton">{{cite web |url=http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic270.htm |title=eMedicine - Hyperventilation Syndrome: Article by Edward Newton, MD |accessdateaccess-date=29 November 2016 |work=}}</ref> cardiovascular problems such as [[pulmonary embolism]]s, [[anemia]], an incorrectly calibrated [[medical respirator]],<ref name=Guyton/><ref name=Brandis/> and adverse reactions to certain drugs.

Hyperventilation can also be induced intentionally to achieve an altered state of consciousness such as in the [[choking game]], during [[Holotropic Breathwork (New Age)|breathwork]], or in an attempt to extend a [[Freediving blackout#Shallow water blackout|breath-hold dive]].

* [[Freediving blackout#Shallow water blackout|Shallow water blackout]], the role of hyperventilation in some drowning incidents