Hyperventilation most commonly occurs in association with anxiety, fear, or during intense concentration on a difficult task, such as performing a complicated approach procedure. Normally, the rate of breathing is controlled by the amount of carbon dioxide in the lungs and in the blood. In hyperventilation, carbon dioxide is blown off and the level of carbon dioxide in the blood drops below normal. Pilots may notice dizziness, a feeling of coldness, a sensation like a tight band around the head and pins and needles in the hands and feet, and cramping and spasms of the hands and feet. Paradoxically, they will often feel as though they cannot get enough air. Continued hyperventilation may result in a loss of consciousness.
Pilots may notice dizziness, a feeling of coldness, a sensation like a tight band around the head and pins and needles in the hands and feet.
The symptoms of hyperventilation, particularly the shortness of breath, are not unlike those of hypoxia, so rather than trying to make the diagnosis, follow the procedure below:
- Breathe oxygen, if available, at 100 percent. If hypoxia is the cause, the symptoms will improve markedly after three or four breaths.
- If the symptoms persist, consciously slow the rate of breathing to 10 – 12 breaths per minute and do not breathe deeply. Breathing slowly and deeply into a paper bag is helpful, although obviously not always practical during flight. Keep the respiratory rate slow until the symptoms disappear. If below 8,000 feet ASL hypoxia is unlikely to be the cause of the problem.
