The diagnosis chronic hyperventilation

to diagnose chronic hyperventilation
to diagnose chronic hyperventilation

In addition to recording your symptoms, a doctor has various methods available to get to the diagnosis chronic hyperventilation. Unfortunately, they often do not know that the following tests can also be used to diagnose chronic hyperventilation. We are talking about blood tests, urine research, Electromyography (EMG), Electroencephalography (EEG), Electrocardiography (ECG) and Capnographic research. For a detailed description of these tests, see the articles with the medical background information.

The problem in diagnosing hyperventilation

Anyone who reports to a doctor with a phobia often appears to be chronically hyperventilating. Most people who hyperventilate have phobic fears to a greater or lesser extent. Sometimes they also have pronounced hypochondriacal anxieties (for diseases and the like). These usually reveal themselves after the first major hyperventilation attack.

The symptoms with which patients confront medical professionals are usually vague. The patients often make a nervous impression. They have difficulty explaining to a doctor what is wrong with them. This effect is made worse because the central nervous system (the brain) functions less well as a result of hyperventilation. See also the article on chronic hyperventilation.

Doctors in turn are often unfamiliar with the complete clinical picture of hyperventilation. And they are usually not well informed about the psycho-social situation of their patient. The level of alarm of the patient versus the the doctor’s ‘I cannot find anything’ creates a friction between doctor and patient. And that often prevents the doctor to make the correct diagnosis.

The frustration of both patient and doctor

the doctor's frustration if  he can not find a cause
the doctor’s frustration if
he can not find a cause

A well-meaning doctor will want to reassure his patient. Often by saying that ‘he has nothing’. Or that it’s ‘just nerves’. The person involved often feels accused of misleading the doctor. Some even feel that the doctor suspects them of laziness. But the worry about their health is increasing. And that leads to a growing use of medical care. The doctor often regards this as inadequate or hysterical behavior. With a consequent increasing bias towards the patient. A long, meaningless and extremely frustrating agony for both parties has then begun.

The diagnosis made

Those who are trained in identifying hyperventilation can make the correct diagnosis quite quickly. They only need to see a few of the symptoms of the hyperventilation syndrome. A well-known method is to have the patient breathe more than 12 times per minute. In people who hyperventilate, the typical symptoms usually occur during this provocation test. The relationship of the symptoms and the patients breathing has than been established. Another method is to have the patient hold the breath as long as possible. Hyperventilation patients often can hold their breath significantly less than 1 minute. Please note that this also depends on the lung capacity and general physical condition of the patient. But the atmosphere in a consulting room is rarely ideal for doing these tests.