Noooo... I have been hyperventilating more frequently. Guess it's time I googled how to cure it =x

What is Hyperventilation?
Hyperventilation is the state of breathing faster and/or deeper than necessary, resulting in reduced carbon dioxide concentration of the blood below it's normal level.

Because of this reduced level a number of symptoms may arise such as numbness or tingling feeling in the hands, feet and/or lips, dizziness, headache, lightheadedness, chest pain, muscle-aces and sometimes fainting. The symptoms are as varied as they are inconvenient and can lead to all kinds of problems during everyday life.

Causes of Hyperventilation
The most common cause for hyperventilation is stress or anxiety [So true =x I should start clearing my to-do list faster! Someone build me a Priority tree to do it =p], although hyperventilation can also be caused due to various lung diseases, coffee abuse, head injuries or for example a stroke. Another cause could be metabolic acidosis in which the body starts to hyperventilate to reduce the acidity of the blood.

What is Chronic Hyperventilation
If the body is in a state of hyperventilation quite often and for a long period of time, the neural system will get used to the lower levels of carbon dioxide and slowly starts to accept these lower levels as the normal levels to maintain. If that is the case the body is suffering from chronic hyperventilation. The person suffering from chronic hyperventilation will have a constant feeling of discomfort and usually displays a number of symptoms. The symptoms themselves can be quite scary which in turn could trigger to hyperventilate even more than the body was already doing. The actual cause of hyperventilation might already be gone (anxiety/stress etc) however the neural system has adjusted itself to maintain lower levels of carbon dioxide.

So true. And the only way to cure it is therapy. I think I can do that myself. Definitely. =x

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Breathing techniques

• Breathe through pursed lips, as if you are whistling, or pinch one nostril and breathe through your nose. It is harder to hyperventilate when you breath through your nose or pursed lips because you cannot move as much air.
• Slow your breathing to 1 breath every 5 seconds, or slow enough that symptoms gradually go away.
• Try belly-breathing, which fills your lungs fully, slows your breathing rate, and helps you relax.
  • Place one hand on your belly just below the ribs. Place the other hand on your chest. You can do this while standing, but it may be more comfortable while you are lying on the floor with your knees bent.
  • Take a deep breath through your nose. As you inhale, let your belly push your hand out. Keep your chest still.
  • As you exhale through pursed lips, feel your hand go down. Use the hand on your belly to help you push all the air out. Take your time exhaling.
  • Repeat these steps 3 to 10 times. Take your time with each breath.