Hyperventilation syndrome

In medicine (psychiatry), hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) is an episodic disorder that often presents with chest pain and a tingling sensation of the fingertips (paresthesiae) and around the mouth, as well as deep and labored breathing (producing hyperventilation). The amount of O₂ that goes to the brain decreases.

HVS can be part of a panic attack but, despite all the stigma, most patients are not putting on a show but are in true distress. The hyperventilation is self-promulgating as carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels fall and respiratory alkalosis (high blood pH) develop. A rapid traditional intervention is to make the patient breathe into a paper bag, causing rebreathing and restoration of CO₂ levels.

See also

• panic attack