From the Guidelines
Hyperventilation is characterized by shallow, rapid breathing rather than deep breathing. This is based on the findings of a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 1, which notes that subjects with psychogenic disorders, including hyperventilation syndrome, often exhibit abnormal breathing patterns at rest and during exercise, including an abrupt onset of regular, rapid, shallow breathing disproportionate to the metabolic stress. Some key characteristics of hyperventilation include:
- Abnormal increases in respiratory frequency
- Respiratory alkalosis, as evidenced by decreased PetCO2 and Pa CO2
- Inappropriate ventilation due to either hyperventilation or excessive dead space
- Chronic respiratory alkalosis with a downregulated Pa CO2 set point may also be observed at rest before exercise It is essential to identify hyperventilation syndrome, as appropriate treatment is usually successful 1. In real-life clinical practice, recognizing the signs of hyperventilation, such as shallow and rapid breathing, is crucial for providing proper care and addressing the underlying cause of the condition.
From the Research
Hyperventilation Characteristics
- Hyperventilation is defined as breathing in excess of the metabolic needs of the body, resulting in respiratory alkalosis and an elevated blood pH 2
- The traditional definition of hyperventilation syndrome describes a syndrome characterized by a variety of somatic symptoms induced by physiologically inappropriate hyperventilation and usually reproduced by voluntary hyperventilation 2
- Hyperventilation can be caused by physiological mechanisms such as low Pa,CO2, or the increased sympathetic adrenergic tone, as well as psychological mechanisms 2
Breathing Patterns in Hyperventilation
- Rapid deep respirations are a common symptom associated with hyperventilation syndrome 3
- Hyperventilation can result in a wide variety of symptoms, including pain, tension, disturbances of consciousness, circulatory problems, and cardiovascular effects 4
- Chronic hyperventilation may engender a self-perpetuating mechanism within the pathophysiology of panic disorder, contributing to the chronicity of panic and anxiety symptoms 5
Diagnosis and Treatment
- The main approach to diagnosis is the detection of signs of (possible) dysregulation of breathing leading to hypocapnia 2
- The therapeutic approach to hyperventilation syndrome has several stages and/or degrees of intervention, including psychological counselling, physiotherapy and relaxation, and finally drug therapy 2
- Treatment may consist of rebreathing into a paper bag or slowly inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth 3