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Nicklaus Children's Hospital

Nicklaus Children's Hospital
3100 S.W. 62nd Avenue
Miami, Florida 33155
(305) 666-6511 or toll-free 1-800-432-6837
Physician referral: 1-888-MCH-DOCS
Email: info@nicklaushealth.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.