OVER-BREATHING – DESCRIPTION
Over-breathing and hyperventilation attacks are a common form of psychosomatic illness.
When we breathe, oxygen is taken in and carbon dioxide given out. There is a normal balance of these gases in the blood.
In hyperventilation, the breathing becomes deeper and faster. Too much carbon dioxide may be blown off and the level of this gas in the blood falls, altering the acid-base balance and the level of bicarbonate in the blood. This interferes with and lowers calcium levels.
The level of carbon dioxide in the blood provides the stimulus to breathe, not the level of oxygen. When this drops, there is no desire to breathe. The oxygen level then falls and this can lead to loss of consciousness.
Of course, carbon dioxide is building up from the body’s metabolic processes and, when it rises sufficiently, breathing restarts, oxygen is taken in and consciousness regained.
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