What can cause hyperventilation?

Hyperventilation refers to a condition in which a person breathes very rapidly or deeply, leading to an imbalance in oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the body. The primary factors contributing to hyperventilation include anxiety and fast, shallow breaths.

When someone experiences anxiety, their body often reacts with a "fight or flight" response, which can increase their breathing rate as they perceive a threat or danger. This rapid breathing can lead to an excessive expulsion of carbon dioxide and may result in symptoms such as light-headedness, tingling in the extremities, and even fainting as the balance of gases in the blood is disrupted. Therefore, the combination of anxiety and rapid, shallow breathing makes this scenario a classic situation leading to hyperventilation.

In contrast, emotional distress and deep breathing, calmness with slow deep breaths, and excitement with increased oxygen supply are not conducive to hyperventilation; rather, they are more associated with controlled breathing that can help to alleviate stress.