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Barbara Bush Children's Hospital

The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital
At Maine Medical Center

22 Bramhall Street
Portland, Maine 04102-3175
www.bbch.org


What Does Hyperventilate Mean?

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.