Hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) is a name given to a collection of physical and emotional symptoms, largely brought about by hyperventilation.
It happens when you breathe more than your body naturally needs. Around 10% of patients in a population are diagnosed with hyperventilation syndrome.
Pathophysiology
The main sign of hyperventilation syndrome is when breathing becomes much faster and shallower than your body needs. The body is very good at keeping the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in our body balanced, but in those with breathing pattern disorders, it is the level of carbon dioxide within the body that can be affected leading to respiratory alkalosis (reduced pH in the blood) This changes the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen that is normally carried in the blood.
Over time, all sorts of physical changes can take place in our lungs, arteries, and blood which make it harder for oxygen to get where it is needed in your body and which in turn leads to other symptoms.
Severity
It can be chronic which means it happens all the time continuously. Even minor stresses can trigger these changes.
It can be acute which means it comes in attacks then goes away again.
Recurrent hyperventilation can occur at times of stress when your breathing rate increases.
Symptoms of hyperventilation syndrome
Respiratory symptoms
️Breathlessness
️Tightness around the chest
️Fast breathing
️Frequent sighing
General symptoms
️Tension
️Anxiety
️Fatigue and sluggishness
️Insomnia
In the head
️Dizziness
️Blurred vision
️Faintness
️Headaches
In temperature
️Cold hands or feet
️Shivering
️Warm feeling in the head
In the heart
️Palpitations
️Tachycardia (rapid heart beat)
In the stomach area
️Sickness
️Abdominal pain
In the muscles
️Tingling (e.g. in fingers, arms, mouth)
️Muscle stiffness
️Trembling in hands
These symptoms can be weakening and scary, especially if you find it’s happening on a regular basis.
However, they can in some cases be due to physical causes other than HVS, which is why you may often be asked to undergo various physical tests so that you can be certain of an HVS diagnosis.
Who gets HVS
It is common especially in females and those aged between 15-55.
Causes of hyperventilation syndrome
The main reason for HVS is anxiety which is brought on by stress response to stress. This can affect the ability of the diaphragm (the muscle under the lungs) to function fully. This puts extra pressure on your upper chest muscles for breathing.
Overusing these upper chest muscles over a long time can eventually lead to feelings of breathlessness and tightness in the chest. Hyperventilation may occur as a reaction to these unpleasant symptoms. We start to breathe more quickly and shallowly. This could perhaps be interrupted by bursts of sighing.
Unfortunately, one of the problems faced by many people with HVS is that the symptoms they experience in their bodies can lead to further anxiety and symptoms. This will make unnecessary fear in patients' minds that they have a severe illness.
What to do about HVS
Recognize your symptoms for what they are.
Don't feel disappointed as these symptoms are not life-threatening. Instead, you can help yourself by taking control of the causes and consequences of your symptoms.
Improve the way you breathe by learning how to breathe slowly and deeply which helps you to relax your body.
It expands the whole of your chest, including the muscle between your lungs and your stomach (the diaphragm muscle).
Practice your breathing when sitting or lying in a comfortable position.
You can get advice from a physiotherapist about the correct way of breathing and exercises. Do not try too hard and do not continue deep breathing for long periods of time.
Learn to cope with potentially stressful situations.
People with HVS find that, if they are able to cope better with the causes of their symptoms, over time their symptoms begin to reduce or even disappear. In this way, it is possible to return to a healthier and more comfortable life.
You can practice reducing tension and stress using a more effective breathing style, doing regular breathing exercises. And also be positive with the thoughts like "my HVS symptoms are unpleasant but not life-threatening" and be Happier, calm, more relaxed. This is how you can reduce symptoms and prevent HVS by yourself.
A respiratory physiotherapist also can make a huge difference in helping you to correct your breathing pattern.
He will assess your breathing pattern and help to identify the factors that might contribute to the condition in your specific case and also he will be able to pick up whether they think you might have hyperventilation syndrome and will be able to address your breathing pattern to help reestablish a normal pattern educating you and advising you on medication management, controlling the respiratory rate, diaphragmatic breathing, controlling breath volume, relaxation and breathing exercises.
It’s important to bear in mind that there’s no quick fix to hyperventilation syndrome, and we always stress that you must adhere regularly to the advice given to gain maximum benefit.
Nimasha sankalani
References
https://www.airphysiotherapy.co.uk/2019/03/25/hyperventilation-syndrome-all-you-need-to-know/
https://www.physio.co.uk/what-we-treat/respiratory/symptoms/hyperventilation.php
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