Normative breathing function allows the body to expel harmful levels of carbon dioxide, and inhale fresh oxygen. Therefore in order to create the optimum balance of CO2 and O2 – the brain determines which levels are required and if the balance is disrupted, such as when you take shorter breaths – hyperventilation can follow. This can produce a range of symptoms, including: increased muscular-tension around the body, a sensation of chest constriction, tiredness, dizziness, sweating and panic-attacks. If the person suffering from an attack suffers from respiratory conditions such as asthma, going into hyperventilation may require immediate medical attention.
If this should happen to you, there are several techniques you can use to regulate breathing and revert breathing-patterns to normative-states. These include: realising that you are on the brink of experiencing hyperventilation and making a conscious effort to breathe at regular intervals through your stomach, rotating your shoulders and gently applying pressure to your neck and temples in order to regain control, drinking a glass of cold water or splashing some water onto your face to slow down heart-rate, and counting backwards in order to re-focus your mind and locate a mental-space in which you feel more comfortable.
Crucially, it’s important to identify when you are on the cusp of an attack, so you can deploy pro-active strategies and techniques that can help to minimise its effects and stop them from overwhelming you. Meditating can also be of tremendous help, so if you are prone to episodes of anxiety – it may be worth-while learning a few techniques designed to control breathing.