Hyperventilation

• Hyperventilation Overview
• Hyperventilation Causes
• Hyperventilation Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Hyperventilation Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Next Steps
• Outlook
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Hyperventilation Overview

Hyperventilation is breathing in excess of what the body needs. This is sometimes called overbreathing. Rapid or deep breathing is sometimes seen in very serious conditions such as infection, bleeding, or heart attack.

Hyperventilation syndrome is more specific and relates to an overbreathing pattern that happens under certain conditions. This overbreathing results in a group of symptoms.

Although hyperventilation syndrome may seem very similar to panic attacks, the 2 disorders are different.

• Those with panic disorder often have emotional complaints (for example, fear of death or closed-in spaces) with their attacks.

• If you have hyperventilation syndrome, however, you will have certain symptoms without these emotional complaints (although you still may be anxious).