Hyperventilation
Hyperventilation is the syndrome where we breathe more than we need to in order to keep our respiration in balance, either by breathing more frequently while at rest, or by breathing more deeply than we need. We get the sensation that we are short of breath, which is what causes the associated anxiety, palpitation and chest pain. As we breathe too much the level of carbon dioxide in our blood is reduced - we’ve exhaled it. Since carbon dioxide is acidic, the acidity of the blood is changed, and it becomes alkaline. This alters the level of circulating calcium ions, which affects the way nerves work (see skin, muscle and nerve) and causes pins and needles. Eventually there is loss of consciousness.
The treatment is to increase the level of carbon dioxide in the blood either by holding our breath or by re-breathing air from a paper bag (classically a brown one, though any colour would do). This is uncommon in childhood, but frequently occurs in adolescence, often precipitated by anxiety or panic attacks (see brain disorders in the head section).
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