Hyperventilation syndrome overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

In psychiatry, hyperventilation syndrome is an episodic disorder that often presents with chest pain and a tingling sensation of the fingertips (paresthesia) and around the mouth, as well as deep and labored breathing (causing hyperventilation), although chronic but subtle hyperventilation can cause these symptoms too.

Hyperventilation syndrome can be triggered by emotions of stress, anxiety, depression, or anger. Occasional hyperventilation from panic is generally related to a specific fear or phobia, such as a fear of heights, dying, or closed-in spaces (claustrophobia).

Chest radiography is usually performed to rule out any acute pulmonary or cardiac pathology. In patients with hyperventilation syndrome a chest X-ray should be normal.

In majority of cases, patients with a normal chest X-ray will not need a chest CT. The chest CT is indicated to evaluate abnormalities found on chest X-ray, such as possible pulmonary nodules or masses, parenchymal infiltrates. CT angiography (CTA) of the chest is done when pulmonary embolism needs to be ruled out.

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