What causes Hyperventilation?

What Is Hyperventilation?

Hyperventilation is a condition in which you suddenly start to breathe very quickly. Healthy breathing occurs with a healthy balance between breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide. You upset this balance when you hyperventilate by exhaling more than you inhale. This causes a rapid reduction in carbon dioxide in the body.

Low carbon dioxide levels eventually lead to narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. This reduction in blood supply to the brain leads to symptoms like lightheadedness and tingling in the fingers. Severe hyperventilation can lead to loss of consciousness.

For some people, hyperventilation is rare, and only occurs as an occasional, panicked response to fear, stress, or a phobia. For others, this condition occurs regularly as a typical response to emotional states, such as depression, anxiety, or anger. When hyperventilation is a frequent occurrence, it’s known as hyperventilation syndrome.

Hyperventilation is also known as: 

• rapid (or fast) deep breathing 
• over breathing 
• respiratory rate (or breathing) — rapid and deep

Common Causes of Hyperventilation

There are many factors that can lead to hyperventilation. This condition most commonly results from anxiety, panic, nervousness, or stress. It often takes the form of a panic attack.

Other causes include: 

• bleeding 
• the use of stimulants 
• drug overdose (aspirin overdose, for example) 
• severe pain 
• pregnancy 
• an infection in the lungs 
• lung diseases, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 
• heart conditions, such as a heart attack 
• diabetic ketoacidosis (a complication of high blood sugar in people with type 1 diabetes) Hyperventilation can also occur because of problems caused by asthma or emphysema or after a head injury. Some women experience problems with hyperventilation during pregnancy. Hyperventilation can occur in some people when traveling to elevations over 6,000 feet as well.

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