Did you know that…..

During “Panics Attacks” patients can hyperventilates voluntarily ?

Physiologically, excess pulmonary ventilation produces a complicated chain of events. Over-breathing leads to a reduction of  CO2 tension of the alveolar air and a rise in the O2 tension. As the plasma CO2 content falls, the alkalinity of the blood increases.

The person hyperventilates because he experienced a sense of air hunger during the Panic Attack. When the respiratory alkalosis appears the patient feel muscular stiffness in the extremities, and a feeling of pins and needles around mouth, fingers and toes.

(Edited by María Moya Guirao, M.D.)