What is Hyperventilation?

Hyperventilation happens when a person breathes too fast and deeply, usually due to emotional stress like anxiety or panic attacks. This rapid breathing reduces carbon dioxide in the blood, causing symptoms such as dizziness, tingling, or numbness in the hands and feet.

Although it can feel scary, hyperventilation is usually not dangerous and can be relieved with calm reassurance and slow, controlled breathing.

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Causes & Triggers

Hyperventilation is most commonly triggered by emotional or psychological distress. Common causes include:

• Acute anxiety

• Panic attacks

• Hysteria

• Sudden emotional shock

• Fright or fear

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Recognition of Hyperventilation

• Fast, deep breathing (often out of proportion to activity level)

• Dizziness or light-headedness

• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

• Cramps in the fingers or toes

• Faintness or trembling

​These symptoms can resemble other conditions like asthma or heart attacks, so observation and calm questioning are important.

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First Aid actions to take​

When assisting someone with suspected hyperventilation, follow these steps:

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*some key pointers: if the casualty has a particular trigger and you want to find out more, make sure that the casualty is comfortable with sharing about it. If not, they might retrigger their panic attack/hyperventilation thinking about the whole situation.

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Key Points to Remember

• Hyperventilation is often linked to emotional distress, not physical illness.

• Calm reassurance and a quiet environment are usually enough to stop the episode.

• Do not panic — the casualty may be scared but will likely recover quickly.

• Refer them to a healthcare professional for further assessment if needed.​​​​

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