Hyperventilation is most often caused by stress, anxiety, pain, or
fear. Symptoms of hyperventilation usually last 20 to 30 minutes and may
include:
- Feeling anxious, nervous, or
tense.
- Frequent sighing or yawning.
- Feeling that you
can't get enough air (air hunger) or that you need to sit up to
breathe.
- A pounding and racing heartbeat.
- Problems with
balance,
lightheadedness, or
vertigo.
- Numbness or tingling in the
hands, feet, or around the mouth.
- Chest tightness, fullness,
pressure, tenderness, or pain.
- Headache.
- Gas, bloating,
or burping.
- Twitching.
- Sweating.
- Vision
changes, such as blurred vision or tunnel vision.
- Problems with
concentration or memory.
- Loss of consciousness (fainting).
Treatment for hyperventilation depends on the cause. Home treatment
is usually all that is needed for mild hyperventilation symptoms. Medical
treatment may be needed for hyperventilation symptoms that are moderate to
severe, last for long periods of time, or recur. A health professional can help
you develop a strategy for controlling your symptoms or treat the cause of your
symptoms.
Although anxiety and stress are the most common causes, there are
many less common causes of hyperventilation. A person's ability to control
symptoms of hyperventilation depends on the cause.
