Hyperventilation

The hyperventilation or acceleration and respiratory amplification can result naturally from a great physical effort (for example during a race) or from a pathological state. It can also be produced to voluntarily obtain a state of Transe, to allow an emotional awakening in Psychothérapie, for example in the technique of the Rebirth or in the event of plunged in apnea.

Use in diving

In apnea, it is used to reduce the rate of Carbon dioxide in the Sang (without to increase notably the rate of Oxygène). This practice can be dangerous because the warning system of the body is distorted. Indeed, the reflex of breathing and the desire for breathing are based on the rate of CO₂ dissolved in blood. The organization has also a protection mechanism related to the rate of O₂ which causes a syncope if this one is too low. Normally, the desire for breathing occurs before the body does not start a syncope. Hyperventilation makes increase the threshold of the reflex of breathing so that it is reached after the threshold of syncope.

Risks related to hyperventilation

In general, the most frequent risk is that the victim yields to the Panique with the inherent risks (falls, shocks, traumatism, etc).

In the case of the Plongée underwater, if the victim is on the surface, partially immersed, the principal risk is that the head falls into water and that it drowns. If the victim is in diving, the risk is then important that it falls in syncope before to have wanted to breathe and that it drowns too.

Causes

The causes many and are varied, voluntary or pathological as indicated above. Nevertheless, one can quote:

• the Anxiety;
• the Fever, the intense Pain;
• the abuse alcohol or Drug;
• the excessive consumption of some Drug S (like the Aspirine);
• the coffee excessive consumption
• some Disease S pulmonary or coronary;
• the Asthma, the Pregnancy, the Altitude and the Metabolic acidosis
• intense physical effort
• the voluntary cause (case of the plunger in apnea)

Symptoms

In the case of a hyperventilation, breathing accelerates and becomes jerked. It is accompanied by Vertige S, agitation, tremors, etc

One can also note disorders of the Vision (vision doubles for example), a feeling of undulation of the body, loss of conscience as well as tremors.

Other symptoms can also accompany the clinical picture: difficulties of concentration, Mucous dryness of the S, thoracic palpitations, pains, tiredness. Hyperventilation can go until the loss of consciousness, the Tétanie by muscular contraction, or the cardiac arrhythmia.

chronic Syndrome of hyperventilation It is a relatively frequent state. To the symptoms quoted above are added the feeling to miss air, a thoracic oppression, a dry cough, scrapings of throat and a frequent need to yawn and sigh.

These symptoms often lend to confusion, being able to let believe, in their state of crisis to a Asthme (release in the presence of dust, of strong odor, effort, etc).

Treatment

The victim of such a crisis must be framed and reassured in order not to yield to the Panique. Sometimes, the fact of breathing in a paper bag makes it possible to restore partially the rate of CO2. This practice must of course be realized with precaution and the paper bag must be withdrawn as soon as the symptoms disappear.

The medical community seems from now on to question this process practiced a long time.

Prevention

Hyperventilation is very often the symptom of another Pathologie. It is of course advised in this case to consult a specialist in order to identify the origin of the evil and to treat it.

In diving in apnea

In the case of the diving in apnea, the exit of a forced hyperventilation being able to be fatal, it is of course necessary to avoid only practicing and without monitoring.

In order to prevent this risk, it is advised to implement the rule of the third time .

References