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.