Frequently asked questions about hyperventilation
Hyperventilation occurs when someone breathes too rapidly and/or too deeply. Breathing is necessary to absorb oxygen and to release carbon dioxide via the lungs.
Normally, we adjust the number and depth of breaths per minute to match our current level of physical effort. This is why we breathe faster when running or exercising, it is because the body’s demand for oxygen increases.
Breathing too rapidly or too deeply during periods of little physical exertion, however, means that the oxygen level in the blood will become too high and the carbon dioxide level too low. The excessively low carbon dioxide level (hypocapnia) can lead to problems.
Complaints arising from this include tightness in the chest, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, fainting, numbness in the hands and feet and around the mouth, and a rapid or irregular heartbeat. It is important to know that hyperventilation – as far as is known – is harmless, although the condition does have very disruptive and restrictive effects on the life of the patient.
The many different symptoms caused by anxiety and tension are not harmful. Hyperventilation does not lead to the risk of permanent damage. That means you will experience no lasting effects.
An attack can be a one-off experience. Of course, people can suffer greatly from the symptoms and the fear of a new attack can restrict people in their lives.
A pattern of avoiding certain situations can emerge, which of course influences and restricts daily life. For example, people can develop agoraphobia.
Hyperventilation arising from stress often occurs at rest rather than during physical exertion. If you experience tightness in the chest during exertion that persists at rest, please contact your GP. This also applies to situations in which you are very short of breath and you think this is not due to hyperventilation.
Hyperventilation can have physical and psychological causes. Hyperventilation syndrome results from psychological causes. However, it is not always immediately clear whether the causes are psychological because patients often suffer from anxiety during a hyperventilation attack, which prolongs the attack. To determine whether the patient is suffering from hyperventilation syndrome, the doctor must therefore first rule out physical causes.
Rapid breathing can lead to the following complaints:
- Breathing problems
Shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, sighing a lot, rapid and/or deep breathing - Heart complaints Heart palpitations, (stabbing) chest pains, heart pounding
- Cramp complaints
Muscle stiffness, shaking and cramp in the hands, tingling in the hands or around the mouth - Central nervous system complaints
Dizziness, darkened vision, feeling faint, dry mouth, sweating, feeling cold or hot, headache - Gastrointestinal complaints
Nausea, abdominal pain, bloated feeling, vomiting - General complaints
Stress, anxiety, panic, fatigue, sleep problems
Hyperventilation is a problem that a large part of the population will suffer from at some point in their life. Many patients experience hyperventilation as a restriction on their freedom of movement – but it does not have to be. You can feel a hyperventilation attack coming by listening to your body properly, which means you can intervene in time. You can recognise a hyperventilation attack by the symptoms described above. It is advisable to use the HyperFree® cassette as soon as one or more of these hyperventilation symptoms occur. Simply by inhaling and exhaling through the HyperFree, you can bring the oxygen/carbon dioxide ratio back into balance in as short a time as possible, which will cause the symptoms of hyperventilation to subside and prevent a hyperventilation attack.
Do not panic. For many people it helps to know that hyperventilation can do no harm whatsoever. As soon as the hyperventilation attack begins (or if you feel a hyperventilation attack coming) do not walk but stand calmly or sit down, and make sure you breathe correctly (abdominal breathing). Once the hyperventilation attack has subsided, do not immediately continue with your previous activity; the body needs some time to restore the oxygen and carbon dioxide balance. The HyperFree® cassette is a very good means of preventing hyperventilation.
The HyperFree® is an inhalation cassette containing a labyrinth calculated to match the average lung capacity of a human being. By breathing in and out through the HyperFree® cassette, an elevated carbon dioxide level remains in the Hyper Free each time. This positively influences the ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide during inhalation. The labyrinth creates a slight counter-pressure during inhalation and exhalation. This pressure promotes calmer breathing.
The HyperFree® cassette ensures that the patient is able to regain the correct balance between carbon dioxide and oxygen as quickly as possible, which ensures the hyperventilation attack ceases and the symptoms caused by the hyperventilation disappear. A major advantage is that the HyperFree® cassette can also have a preventive effect: many patients experience fewer attacks due to the simple fact that they carry the HyperFree with them. This is because they know they can quickly and safely fight a hyperventilation attack when it occurs, which reduces their anxiety. The HyperFree cassette is not medicine, it is a medical device that can be used as often as necessary.
At the top of the HyperFree you will see a blue triangle. This is the side through which you both inhale and exhale. It is advisable that you sit down when experiencing a hyperventilation attack, preferably on a chair with a straight backrest, such as a dining room chair. Bring the HyperFree to your mouth and start breathing in and out through the cassette. Continue breathing through the HyperFree until the attack subsides and your breathing becomes calm. The time required to overcome an attack varies from person to person. The moment you begin inhaling and exhaling through the HyperFree, you will notice that the attack and symptoms subside rapidly.
The HyperFree® cassette is composed of two connecting plastic parts that form a labyrinth on the inside of the cassette. This labyrinth has a volume of fifty cubic centimetres. By inhaling and exhaling through the narrow side of the HyperFree® cassette, you re-inhale the excess carbon dioxide that has been exhaled. This quickly stops the hyperventilation attack. The labyrinth in the HyperFree® cassette also ensures that you cannot inhale or exhale too rapidly, which makes breathing more controlled and calm. The HyperFree® cassette is a Dutch invention; it was developed in the Diaconessen Hospital in Leiden. The research is published in the Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde (Dutch Journal of Medicine).
It is possible to clean the inside of the HyperFree®. This can be done by pressing apart the top and underside with your thumbs on the side of the opening with the blue triangle. Do this carefully. Once opened, rinse the cassette with warm water and dry at room temperature. When joining the top and underside again, be careful not to damage the edges of the HyperFree® and ensure that the cassette is closed again properly. You should preferably keep the HyperFree® in a dry and dust-free place and in the case provided.
To guarantee correct operation and for hygienic reasons, the HyperFree must be replaced after 12 months.
You can contact your chemist or pharmacy. Chemists: DA / De Drogist / Dio drogist / Gezond en Wel / Uw Eigen Drogist / Zorg en Zeker and all independent chemists. Pharmacies: All pharmacies can supply the HyperFree®. If your chemist or pharmacy does not have the HyperFree® in stock, the HyperFree® can be ordered from their wholesaler. All wholesalers can supply the HyperFree®.
When experiencing a hyperventilation attack, you should continue breathing through the HyperFree until the attack subsides and you are able to breath calmly. The time required to overcome an attack varies from person to person. The moment you begin inhaling and exhaling through the HyperFree, you will notice that the attack and symptoms subside rapidly.
You can also use it preventively. If you inhale and exhale via the HyperFree for a period of around 1.5 minutes at a time that suits you, you can keep the ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen in balance. It is advisable to do this at the start of the day, then again around noon and also in the evening before going to sleep.
The HyperFree® can be used by both children and adults. Adult supervision is recommended for children of up to 12 years.
When using the HyperFree, it is very important that you only breathe through your mouth, not your nose.
You may use the HyperFree as often as needed.
There is an opening on the side of the HyperFree. This should not be obstructed.
No, the HyperFree is not covered by your insurance.
