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Hyperventilation
is rapid or deep breathing, usually caused by anxiety
or panic. This overbreathing actually leaves you feeling
breathless.
PREVENTION
Probably the best way to prevent hyperventilation is to
avoid situations and activities that cause anxiety. To
help yourself :
· Learn meditation and practice it every day. Meditation
is a form of mental relaxation. It relieves stress as
you focus on a single word or visual image.
· Practice relaxing your muscles: lie down in a
quiet room, close your eyes and take "deep"
breaths, start with your feet, tense the muscles in one
foot, hold for 10 seconds and relax them, repeat with
the other foot, tense and relax the muscle in your legs,
back, stomach, hands, arms, shoulders, neck and face.
· Exercise on a regular basis. People in good physical
shape are less likely to buckle under stress.
· Reduce caffeine. Drink less coffee, tea and colas.
Eat less chocolate.
SIGNS
Shortness of breath, fast breathing, chest pain, weakness,
dizziness, and numbness and tingling around the mouth,
hands, and feet.
FIRST
AID
Try to slow your breathing. You can breath through pursed
lips (as if you are blowing out a candle) or you can cover
your mouth and one nostril, breathing through the other
nostril.
Try
to relax.
DO NOT breathe into a paper bag. It is NO LONGER RECOMMENDED
because this can quickly lead to too much carbon dioxide
in your blood stream.
SEEK CARE IF:
You
are experiencing rapid breathing for the first time. (This
is a medical emergency and you should be taken to the
emergency room right away.)
You are in pain, have a fever, or notice any bleeding.
Hyperventilation persists or worsens despite home treatment,
or if it is accompanied by other symptoms.
CALL IMMEDIATELY FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IF:
You have a seizure.
You have fainting spells or chest pain.
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