How does the level of carbon dioxide in the persons blood change when a person hyperventilates?

Respiratory alkalosis occurs when the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood aren’t balanced.

Your body needs oxygen to function properly. When you inhale, you introduce oxygen into the lungs. When you exhale, you release carbon dioxide, which is a waste product. Normally, the respiratory system keeps these two gases in balance.

Respiratory alkalosis occurs when you breathe too fast or too deep and carbon dioxide levels drop too low. This causes the pH of the blood to rise and become too alkaline. When the blood becomes too alkalotic, respiratory alkalosis occurs.

Hyperventilation is typically the underlying cause of respiratory alkalosis. Hyperventilation is also known as overbreathing. Someone who’s hyperventilating breathes very deeply or rapidly.

Causes of hyperventilation

Panic attacks and anxiety are the most common causes of hyperventilation. However, they’re not the only possible causes. Others include:

• heart attack
• pain
• drug use
• asthma
• fever
• COPD
• infection
• pulmonary embolism
• pregnancy

If you’re experiencing hyperventilation (especially for the first time), don’t assume you know the cause. Make an appointment with a doctor or healthcare professional.

Overbreathing is a sign that respiratory alkalosis is likely to develop. However, low carbon dioxide levels in the blood also have a number of physical effects, including:

• dizziness
• bloating
• feeling light-headed
• numbness or muscle spasms in the hands and feet
• discomfort in the chest area
• confusion
• dry mouth
• tingling in the arms
• heart palpitations
• feeling short of breath

The treatment for respiratory alkalosis depends on the underlying cause.

Panic and anxiety-related causes

Treating the condition is a matter of raising carbon dioxide levels in the blood. The following strategies and tips are useful for respiratory alkalosis caused by overbreathing because of panic and anxiety.

Breathe into a paper bag

1. Fill the paper bag with carbon dioxide by exhaling into it.
2. Breathe the exhaled air from the bag back into the lungs.
3. Repeat this several times.

Doing this several times can give the body the carbon dioxide it needs and bring levels back up to where they should be.

Get reassurance

The symptoms of respiratory alkalosis can be frightening. This often causes faster and deeper breathing, making things worse. Having a calm loved one provide reassurance could help get your breathing under control.

Restrict oxygen intake into the lungs

To do this, try breathing while pursing the lips or breathing through one nostril. For the second approach to be useful, the mouth and the other nostril need to be covered.

Other causes

The above strategies are very simple ways to address respiratory alkalosis. People who often experience overbreathing because of anxiety can use these methods at home.

Anyone experiencing overbreathing and the symptoms of respiratory alkalosis for the first time should go to the hospital right away. The strategies described in the previous section should only be used if a doctor has confirmed the exact cause of overbreathing. Overbreathing symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of other serious health conditions.

The recovery process depends on the cause. If you develop respiratory alkalosis because of conditions such as anxiety, you can usually expect to recover fully. Symptoms should disappear shortly after carbon dioxide levels in the blood are brought back to normal.

In other cases, it may be a true medical emergency. The outlook for people with respiratory alkalosis will then depend on the severity of the underlying cause.

Prevention is a matter of addressing the cause of hyperventilation. The most common causes are psychological: stress, panic, and anxiety. You can adjust to and learn to control these causes.

Working with a therapist may help. So can breathing exercises, meditation, and regular exercise. Medication may be needed in some cases.

Good coping strategies for these types of issues are crucial. They can help lower the risk of hyperventilation and the resulting respiratory alkalosis. They can also help you function better overall in everyday life.

Overview

Hyperventilation is a condition in which you start to breathe very fast.

Healthy breathing occurs with a healthy balance between breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide. You upset this balance when you hyperventilate by exhaling more than you inhale. This causes a rapid reduction in carbon dioxide in the body.

Low carbon dioxide levels lead to narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. This reduction in blood supply to the brain leads to symptoms like lightheadedness and tingling in the fingers. Severe hyperventilation can lead to loss of consciousness.

For some people, hyperventilation is rare. It only occurs as an occasional, panicked response to fear, stress, or a phobia.

For others, this condition occurs as a response to emotional states, such as depression, anxiety, or anger. When hyperventilation is a frequent occurrence, it’s known as hyperventilation syndrome.

Hyperventilation is also known as:

• rapid (or fast) deep breathing
• overbreathing
• respiratory rate (or breathing) — rapid and deep

Hyperventilation can be a serious issue. Symptoms can last 20 to 30 minutes. You should seek treatment for hyperventilation when the following symptoms occur:

• rapid, deep breathing for the first time
• hyperventilation that gets worse, even after trying home care options
• pain
• fever
• bleeding
• feeling anxious, nervous, or tense
• frequent sighing or yawning
• 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

Other symptoms occur less often and it may not be obvious they’re related to hyperventilation. Some of these symptoms are:

• headache
• gas, bloating, or burping
• twitching
• sweating
• vision changes, such as blurred or tunnel vision
• problems with concentration or memory
• loss of consciousness (fainting)

Make sure to let your doctor know if you have recurring symptoms. You may have a condition called hyperventilation syndrome. This syndrome isn’t well understood and has similar symptoms to panic disorder. It’s often misdiagnosed as asthma.

If you don’t already have a primary care doctor, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.

It’s important to try to stay calm in acute cases of hyperventilation. It may be helpful to have someone with you to coach you through the episode. The goal of treatment during an episode is to increase carbon dioxide levels in your body and work to slow your breathing rate.

Home care

You can try some immediate techniques to help treat acute hyperventilation:

• Breathe through pursed lips.
• Breathe slowly into a paper bag or cupped hands.
• Attempt to breathe into your belly (diaphragm) rather than your chest.
• Hold your breath for 10 to 15 seconds at a time.

You can also try alternate nostril breathing. This involves covering your mouth and alternating breathing through each nostril.

With your mouth covered, close the right nostril and breathe in through the left. Then alternate by closing the left nostril and breathing in through the right. Repeat this pattern until breathing has returned to normal.

You may also find that vigorous exercise, such as a brisk walk or jog, while breathing in and out of your nose helps with hyperventilation.

Stress reduction

If you have hyperventilation syndrome, you want to figure out what is causing it. If you experience anxiety or stress, you may want to see a psychologist to help you understand and treat your condition.

Learning stress reduction and breathing techniques will help to control your condition.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture may also be an effective treatment for hyperventilation syndrome.

Acupuncture is an alternative treatment based on ancient Chinese medicine. It involves placing thin needles into areas of the body to promote healing. One preliminary study found that acupuncture helped reduce anxiety and the severity of hyperventilation.

Medication

Depending on the severity, your doctor may also prescribe medication. Examples of medications for hyperventilation include:

• alprazolam (Xanax)
• doxepin
• paroxetine (Paxil)

You can learn breathing and relaxation techniques to help prevent hyperventilation. These include:

• meditation
• alternate nostril breathing, deep belly breathing, and full body breathing
• mind/body exercises, such as tai chi, yoga, or qigong

Exercising regularly (walking, running, bicycling, etc.) can also help to prevent hyperventilation.

Remember to stay calm if you experience any of the symptoms of hyperventilation. Try the at-home breathing methods to get your breathing back on track, and make sure to go see your doctor.

Hyperventilation is treatable, but you may have underlying problems. Your doctor can help you get to the root of the problem and find an appropriate treatment.