Numbness in the hands, feet, and mouth A tingling sensation in the fingers or toes Overwhelming feelings of panic Chest pain Light-headedness Inability to catch one’s breath
Although these symptoms are very real, they are not the source of the problem. Overbreathing is the cause: A person literally breathes in too much oxygen. To stop hyperventilation in its tracks, simply use a paper bag as described here: That’s all it should take. When the person breathes back in the carbon dioxide that she just exhaled, the correct chemical balance in the blood is restored and the physical symptoms cease. When a person hyperventilates, emergency medical assistance is usually not necessary if the procedures above are followed. But call a physician just in case; what looks like hyperventilation could be the onset of asthma or a severe allergic reaction that requires medication for relief.
