Patient & Family Education Materials

Start over with a New Search

Word! Hyperventilate

Hyperventilate

Say: hi-pur-VEN-tuh-layte

Have you ever breathed too deeply? How about too quickly? Put those two things together and you will be hyperventilating.

When you hyperventilate, there is less carbon dioxide in your blood. This can make you feel lightheaded, short of breath, and numb or tingly in your hands and feet. Different things can make you hyperventilate, like a fever, intense exercise, or stress.

Back To Top

Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

© 1995-2024 KidsHealth ® All rights reserved. Images provided by iStock, Getty Images, Corbis, Veer, Science Photo Library, Science Source Images, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com