5 Effective ways to deal with hyperventilation (excessive breathing)

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When experiencing panic and excessive anxiety, it is not uncommon for someone to breathe excessively or too quickly. This body reaction is known as hyperventilation. This condition makes a person breathe faster than usual so that the oxygen level is inhaled is very little. On the other hand, carbon dioxide is exhaled in excess so that the levels in the body decrease. As a result, you can get dizzy. So that this condition does not make you lose consciousness, there are several ways you can do to treat hyperventilation.

Various ways to deal with hyperventilation

1. Breathe with pursed lips

Pursing your lips helps treat hyperventilation syndrome. You do this by pursing your lips just like when you were about to blow out a birthday candle.

Then, inhale from your nose, not through your mouth. Then, exhale through the small gap between the lips. Repeat until you feel better.

2. Breathe slowly with the help of a paper bag

Another way you can treat hyperventilation is to breathe using a paper bag. This method is quite effective because the air will collect in the bag for you to breathe again. However, if you don't have a paper or plastic bag, you can also cup your hands together like a bowl to collect the air.

3. Breathe deeply

To help yourself calm down when you hyperventilate, try to breathe deeply. Although at first it is difficult but you can do it slowly. Try taking a deep breath from your nose and then holding it for 10 to 15 seconds before exhaling through your mouth.

4. Acupuncture

Acupuncture can be a fairly effective treatment for hyperventilation syndrome. If you have been hyperventilating every time you panic, try seeing an acupuncturist for therapy.

Quoted from Healthline, there is a study that found evidence that acupuncture helps reduce anxiety and the severity of hyperventilation.

5. Medicines

Depending on the severity, the doctor will usually prescribe a variety of medications to treat the recurrence of this condition. Some of the drugs that are usually prescribed to treat hyperventilation are: