In hyperventilation (synonyms: Respiratory neurosis; Accelerated breathing; Functional disorder of the respiratory organs; Functional disorder of psychic origin of the respiratory organs; Hyperpnea; Hyperventilation syndrome; Hyperventilation tetany; Hysterical dyspnea; Hysterical hyperventilation; Hysterical hyperventilation tetany; Organ neurosis of respiratory organs; Psychogenic respiratory disorder; Psychogenic respiratory disorder;Psychogenic hyperventilation; Psychogenic hyperventilationstetany;Psychogenic air hunger; Psychogenic disorder of respiratory organs; Psychogenic dragging respiration; ICD-10-GM R06. 4: Hyperventilation; ICD-10-GM F45.3: Somatoform autonomic dysfunction: hyperventilation) involves increased breathing beyond what is needed.
Hyperventilation can have many different causes.
Hyperventilation can be divided into the following forms according to the cause:
- Psychogenic hyperventilation (ICD-10-GM F45.3: Somatoform autonomic dysfunction: hyperventilation) – the most common form; triggers are mainly anxiety, excitement, stress, panic, aggression, depression.
- Somatic hyperventilation (ICD-10-GM R06.4: Hyperventilation) – including lung disease, high fever, calcium, magnesium deficiency, traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Furthermore, hyperventilation can be divided into:
- Primary hyperventilation – disturbance of respiratory function due to somatic or mental disorders.
- Secondary hyperventilation – in response to oxygen deficiency (eg due tocardiovascular disease).
- Hyperventilation during controlled breathing (due toincreased respiratory demand).
- Acute hyperventilation syndrome – seizure hyperventilation with the typical tetanic symptoms (hyperventilation tetany).
- Chronic hyperventilation syndrome – belongs to the group of somatization disorders.
Gender ratio: women and men are equally affected. Acute hyperventilation affects young women more often than men.
Frequency peak: the disease occurs predominantly in the 2nd and 3rd decade of life. The frequency decreases with advancing age.
The prevalence (disease frequency) is 5-10% of adults (in Germany).
Course and prognosis: The treatment of the underlying disease is in the foreground. If it is an acute hyperventilation attack, the prognosis is favorable. In the chronic form of the disease, improvement occurs in 60% of those affected.
