Hyperventilation
Hyperventilation (Latin name)By Bjarne Lühr Hansen PhD, MD and Philipp Skafte-Holm MD, Mentor Institute
Hyperventilation is an unnecessary rapid and deep breathing, most commonly seen in connection with anxiety. The signs of hyperventilation are: prick of face and fingers, numbness in the mouth, difficulty speaking, dizziness and convulsive contractions in the fingers. The condition is completely harmless and can be easily treated with calming or re-inhalation in a bag.
Hyperventilation is the term for an unnecessary rapid and deep breathing. If the body lacks oxygen, you automatically begin to breathe faster and deeper - it is a necessary reaction to oxygen deficiency. By hyperventilation, you breathe quickly and deeply even though you do not have an oxygen deficiency - so unnecessary. The condition is most commonly seen in connection with anxiety, prolonged stress or drug abuse.
When you breathe quickly and deeply, the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood drops and it gives some unpleasant symptoms. It begins with dots on the face and fingers. Later there is numbness in the mouth and tongue and it can be difficult to speak clearly. Dizziness and contractions in the fingers are common. If the condition lasts you will faint.
The symptoms of hyperventilation are scary and will exacerbate a permanent anxiety. Many feel they are getting suffocated and are afraid of that they will die. The condition is completely harmless and can be easily treated.