Symptoms
The biggest clue to Chronic Hyperventilation Syndrome is the presence of vague dizziness accompanied by a lot of other seemingly unrelated symptoms, which might include any of the following:
- shortness of breath for no apparent reason
- frequent sighing or yawning
- chest pains
- heart palpitations
- sweating
- syncope (fainting)
- dizziness
- trembling
- slurred speech
- cold, tingling, or numb lips or extremities
- nausea or irritable bowel syndrome
- aching muscles or joints, or tremors
- tiredness, unsteadiness, or diffuse weakness
- restless sleep, insomnia, or nightmares
- sexual problems
- anxiety or phobias
- fear that perhaps you're a hypochondriac
- dry mouth
- pressure in throat or difficulty swallowing
- bloating, belching, flatulence, or abdominal pain
- impaired memory or concentration
- confusion / disorientation
- tinnitis (ringing in ears)
- headaches
- blurred vision, tunnel vision, double vision, or flashing lights
- tachycardia (rapid pulse)
- depression
- erratic blood pressure
So many members have been posting recently about "difficulty breathing", or not being able to take a "deep breath" - together with all the other nasty symptoms they are experiencing.
There is a book by Dinah Shore which is half explanitory and half self help about the above syndrome. Dinah Shore is a physiotherapist from New Zealand who specialises in respitory physio. The book is excellent, easy to read and explains the condition in full and in simple language.
I have suffered with this for years and know how unpleasant and frightening it can be. It also know how it can excaserbate anxiety/panic and spiral into an uncontrollable cycle of misery.
Of course, you should get checked out medically - but if nothing else is found to be causing your breathing problems, please look into this.
I hope this helps.
Judi