Does anyone know what the score is when the hyperventilated lungs fill the chest cavity and there is no more room for further expansion?
Hypervenilation: Does anyone know what... - Lung Conditions C...
Hypervenilation
Written by
martin1945
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9 Replies
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Sorry I have no idea - perhaps the helpline can give advise. TAD xx
I don't know either. You can try clicking on the green tags below your post, put the word in the search box, call BLF 03000 030 555, office hours.
Need to see doc really .. a was reading it takes time to disburst when thay do that .. also know when i eat some foods it bloats my guts a makes my condition worse so that will not help
Think thats why thay say about special diet .. till it happend to me a thought it was just bs .. but ye was wrong
Hi Martin,
I'm not sure other than I know when that happened to me several times last year, I thought I would die. It's like an almighty heavy iron pressing down with less and less room to breathe. The most frightening experience I have ever had. Luckily I knew that a paper bag helps, so I used one to breathe in and out of, and within minutes I was breathing normally again. Definitely not a pleasant experience!
Jean 
Hi Martin. this has happened to my mum a few years ago, getting to the point where she was virtually unconscious and lips going blue, and the ambulance finally arrived, I can only presume she was given oxygen but how there was room for it I don't know, I was so distraught I didn't really notice anything that was going on. I did ask a doctor at some point whether, if she had become totally unconscious her diaphragm would have relaxed and breathing slowly returned to normal. The answer was "possibly", so am still no wiser really, An awful thing to experience from both sufferer and onlooker. She now has some medication to relax her if she feels she is starting to hyperventilate. x
hi martin, i am not sure i will be of much help, but this has happened to me on quite a few occasions, absolutely terrifying, the first time was when i told dall, about the working with the bleach and cif for a week, a few years ago, when i was first diagnosed, in fact my breathing got worse each day, off course i didnt know what this was, then after a few days of this, i began to hyperventilate, a shocking, terrifying experience, in a way i was lucky i had an alarm thing around my neck, this was the first time i pressed it, couldnt speak, so an ambulance arrived in minutes, by that time i was turning blue, and about passing out, i thought i was "away" that time,, but the medics/hospital saved me.so all i can advise is ask your doctor of any concerns you might have,see the above posts, but if it happens phone 999 right away... jimmy
If no paper bags are available, make a grunting or squeaking noise with every little exhalation. Makes you more aware of what is happening and you sort of semi automatically gradually increase the length and volume of the noise. It works really well.
Found this hope it helps
Treating Hyperventilation
In acute cases of hyperventilation, it is important to try to stay calm. Having someone with you to coach you through the episode may be helpful. The goal of treatment during an episode is to increase carbon dioxide levels in your body and work to slow your breathing rate.
To help treat acute hyperventilation, you can:
breathe through pursed lips
breathe into a paper bag or cupped hands
attempt to breathe into your belly (diaphragm) rather than your chest
cover your mouth and try alternative nostril breathing
Alternative nostril breathing involves covering your mouth and alternating breathing through each nostril. For instance, with mouth covered, close the right nostril and breathe in through the left. Then alternate by closing the left nostril and breathing in through the right. Repeat this pattern until breathing has returned to normal.
If you have hyperventilation syndrome, you will want to figure out what is causing it. If you suffer from anxiety or stress, you may want to see a psychologist to help you understand and treat your condition. Learning stress reduction and breathing techniques will help to control your condition.
Acupuncture may also be an effective treatment for hyperventilation syndrome (Gibson, et al., 2007). Acupuncture is an alternative treatment based on ancient Chinese medicine. It involves placing thin needles into various areas of the body to promote healing. The needles may improve blood circulation due to their ability to stimulate the nerves, muscles, and body tissues (Mayo).
Hello Martin, there's some helpful replies from members who've had some experience of this; I've also come across chronic hyperventilation which I'm given to understand can effect a number of people with copd.
As I was reading your post I wondered if you were thinking of another condition, hyper-inflation of the lungs, something that I've been diagnosed with as I'm sure many others here have too. If this is so then I've often pondered on this same subject too as yes, the lungs could keep over-expanding - and then what???
