Hyperventilation

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Distinguish Template:Infobox medical condition (new) 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>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=Harrisons18th>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=Brandis>Template:Cite book</ref> This leads to hypocapnia, a reduced concentration of carbon dioxide dissolved in the blood. The body normally attempts to compensate for this homeostatically, but if this fails or is overridden, the blood pH will rise, leading to respiratory alkalosis. This increases the affinity of oxygen to hemoglobin and makes it harder for oxygen to be released into body tissues from the blood. 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 spasms, a flapping and contraction of the hands and feet.<ref name=Brandis/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Factors that may induce or sustain<ref name=Harrisons18th/> hyperventilation include: physiological stress, anxiety or panic disorder, high altitude, head injury, stroke, respiratory disorders such as asthma, pneumonia, or hyperventilation syndrome,<ref name="Edward Newton">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> cardiovascular problems such as pulmonary embolisms, 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 breathwork, or in an attempt to extend a breath-hold dive.

See also

• Choking game, a game which may involve hyperventilation to induce temporary syncope and euphoria
• Control of respiration
• Kussmaul breathing
• List of terms of lung size and activity
• Respiratory alkalosis
• Shallow water blackout, the role of hyperventilation in some drowning incidents