Hyperventilation, hyperventilating, and rapid breathing are terms for breathing that has unnatural characteristics either in its frequency or depth of breathing. An example of hyperventilation is unwarranted, excessive and rapid breathing at rest due to shock or excitement. Most often, hyperventilation occurs in the course of seizures and may in turn cause other symptoms, such as dizziness, visual disturbances, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Sometimes unconsciousness even occurs.
Causes
Contrary to what one might suspect, hyperventilation is mostly psychological rather than physical. Stress, anxiety and agitation are particularly typical indicators. Hyperventilation can already occur in childhood. There is no gender-specific predisposition regarding hyperventilation. Contrary to what one might think, hyperventilation is usually not physically caused but psychologically. Situations with psychological stress play a central role. Especially stress, fear and excitement are typical indicators. Rather rarely, hyperventilation occurs in the context of a neurological disease. In this case, possible tumors can permanently disturb the respiratory center in the brain. If hyperventilation is disease-related, however, causes such as poisoning, oxygen deficiency, pulmonary embolism, heart failure and fever usually come into question and should be examined by a doctor.
Diseases with this symptom
- Blood poisoning
- Fear of heights
- Claustrophobia
- Heart failure
- Heart failure
- Pulmonary embolism
- Encephalitis
- Poisoning
- Acidosis
- Anxiety disorder
- Concussion
- Metabolic syndrome
Course
If hyperventilation occurs, which usually involves rapid and deep breathing, the proportion of oxygen in the blood is hardly increased, because saturation was already made possible by normal breathing. However, the proportion of cohelndioxide in its concentration now increases disproportionately more exatment. The effect is then an increased pH value, which leads to a respiratory alkalosis. The result can then be muscle spasms, the so-called hyperventilationstetania. This can lead to unconsciousness.
Complications
Hyperventilation is usually psychogenic in nature, that is, it can be explained only in rare cases due to a physical cause. Complications concern, for example, that hyperventilation becomes somatized. Somatization describes the attribution of hyperventilation to a physical illness, although no physical findings are present. The patients thereby unconsciously achieve to start a therapy that would not be necessary at all. Somatization happens because of a psychosocial burden on the patient. Another complication is the chronification of hyperventilation. Due to the fact that more and more carbon dioxide is exhaled, the body loses acids in the blood. The pH of the blood increases. Respiratory alkalosis occurs. However, in addition to chronic hyperventilation, acute hyperventilation can also cause respiratory alkalosis. Rapid breathing can put the body into a kind of trance state. In addition, the excitability of the muscle is increased, so that seizures may occur. Typically, the paw positions of the hands and arms. In addition, there is contraction of the cerebral vessels, the brain receives less blood and there is dizziness, which can lead to fainting. The risk of falling and injury is very high. Epileptic seizures may also occur. In addition, the brain can suffer severe damage.
When should you go to the doctor?
Hyperventilation is characterized by faster and deeper breathing than necessary for the body at that moment. It almost always has a psychological cause. In the case of hyperventilation, it is nevertheless necessary to think about a possible actual lack of oxygen, as well as other causes such as poisoning, pulmonary embolism, or cardiac insufficiency. When hyperventilation occurs, a doctor should therefore always be consulted to be on the safe side. In the case of hyperventilation, the inhaled air that is currently not needed to the extent required is not simply exhaled again as excess air.Rather, a concentration of carbon dioxide occurs in the body with negative consequences such as muscle cramps or even unconsciousness. Especially if hyperventilation has already occurred several times, its occurrence should be clarified by a doctor. The first point of contact should be the family doctor. He already knows his patient and can assess in advance whether a psychological background is likely or possibly a physical illness. Accordingly, he will issue a referral to the appropriate specialist, for example, a psychologist or psychotherapist, an internist, cardiologist or pulmonologist.
Treatment and therapy
Not everyone affected by hyperventilation immediately seeks medical attention. However, if the attacks occur more often or are a cause for concern, one should be examined. During the consultation, the doctor will ask about previous illnesses, medications taken and the situations in which hyperventilation occurred. Most often, the causes of stress and excitement are revealed. For differential diagnosis, the doctor will seek further examinations if necessary (electrocardiogram (ECG), X-rays, blood tests). After successful determination of the cause, the appropriate therapy is selected. If stress and excitement are responsible for the hyperventilation, the patient should be calmed down. The prescription of autogenic training is useful. In the case of an acute attack, breathing into a plastic bag can also be used to return carbon dioxide levels to normal and stop the hyperventilation. If convulsions occur, sedatives (benzodiazepines) may be administered. Preventively and therapeutically, a so-called breathing therapy should be done, where the patient can learn special breathing techniques. Furthermore, the use of relaxation techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, yoga or autogenic training should be made. If the cause is an anxiety disorder, additional psychotherapy should be considered. However, psychotropic drugs should only be considered as a last resort for recovery. In the case of organic causes such as heart failure, sepsis or anemia, these diseases should be treated first.
Outlook and prognosis
People who hyperventilate begin to breathe extremely in anxiety situations. The breath becomes short and jerky, and the frequency increases rapidly. The cause of hyperventilation is not an organic disease, but psychological stress. Nevertheless, unnatural breathing can increase to the point of fainting. Because the muscles in the chest tense up strongly, hyperventilators have the feeling that they can no longer breathe. The feeling of anxiety creates panic and breathing becomes even more unnatural. Calming down is therefore very important. If the tension is relieved, the symptoms soon disappear. However, if hyperventilation is accompanied by complaints such as severe headaches, heart problems and urinary urgency, a doctor should be consulted. Then the condition could be chronic and have physical causes. Usually, hyperventilation is harmless and easy to treat. The most effective first aid measure is a plastic or paper bag into which the person breathes in and out. After a few minutes, the carbon dioxide accumulates in the blood and the pH returns to normal. Breathing becomes unremarkable. Affected persons can also do something themselves: Concentrated diaphragmatic breathing quickly relieves the symptoms. In 90% of cases, stress is the trigger, so the causes of stress should be eliminated. Relaxation exercises often help. In some cases, psychotherapy is useful. Through it, the sufferer learns to cope better with stress.
Prevention
A non-pathological hyperventilation, can be well prevented by a healthy, stress-free life without unhealthy excitement with plenty of exercise, fresh air, healthy diet and the renunciation of smoking and alcohol. Preventive is likewise the autogenous training, which serves not only for calming down, but can bring also altogether more relaxation in the everyday life.
What you can do yourself
In most cases, hyperventilation does not require calling a doctor. It is indeed an unpleasant condition, which, however, can be treated with simple means. In any case, the person affected by hyperventilation must first and foremost be calmed down. Helpers, friends or acquaintances must encourage them and instruct them to breathe more slowly and calmly.In most cases, these instructions alone help to overcome hyperventilation. However, hyperventilation is often accompanied by anxiety and a strong agitation. If this is the case, the patient must breathe back into a vessel. This greatly increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in this vessel, so that this concentration also rises again in the blood and the patient’s condition returns to normal. For example, a bag or a breathing mask can be used as a vessel. If the hyperventilation does not stop with these means, a doctor should be consulted or called. This person can also give the affected person sedatives to stop the hyperventilation. In most cases, no further symptoms occur after the symptom.
