Hyperventilation syndrome (patient information)

Hyperventilation syndrome
Overview
What are the symptoms?
What are the causes?
Who is at highest risk?
Diagnosis
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
Where to find medical care for Hyperventilation syndrome?
Prevention
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Govindavarjhulla, M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

Hyperventilation is rapid or deep breathing that can occur with anxiety or panic. It is also called overbreathing, and may leave you feeling breathless.

What are the symptoms of Hyperventilation syndrome?

Patients with hyperventilation syndrome, might not be aware that they are breathing fast. However, they will be aware of having many of the other symptoms, including:

• Belching
• Bloating
• Chest pain
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Lightheadedness
• Muscle spasms in hands and feet
• Numbness and tingling in the arms or around the mouth
• Palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Sleep disturbances
• Weakness

What causes Hyperventilation syndrome?

• Anxiety and nervousness
• Bleeding
• Cardiac disease, such as congestive heart failure or heart attack
• Drugs (such as an aspirin overdose)
• Infection such as pneumonia or sepsis
• Ketoacidosis and similar medical conditions
• Lung disease such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or pulmonary embolism
• Panic attack
• Pregnancy
• Severe pain
• Situations where there is a psychological advantage in having a sudden, dramatic illness (for example, somatization disorder)
• Stimulant use
• Stress

Who is at highest risk?

Hyperventilation syndrome can be triggered by emotions of stress, anxiety, depression, or anger. Occasional hyperventilation from panic is generally related to a specific fear or phobia, such as a fear of heights, dying, or closed-in spaces (claustrophobia).

Diagnosis

History

• Short of breath onset and duration.
• Past medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol
• Medication history
• Are you in pain.
• Associated symptoms.

Laboratory Findings

• Blood tests for the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood
• Chest CT scan
• ECG
• Ventilation/perfusion scan of your lungs
• X-rays of the chest

When to seek urgent medical care?

• Rapid breathing for the first time. (This is a medical emergency and you should be taken to the emergency room right away.)
• Severe pain, having a fever, or noticed any bleeding.
• Worsening of symptoms.

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003071.htm