What is the Difference Between Hyperventilation and Hypoventilation

The key difference between hyperventilation and hypoventilation is that hyperventilation is when people breathe fast and exhale more than they inhale, while hypoventilation is when people breathe slowly and exhale less than they inhale.

Hyperventilation and hypoventilation are two respiratory conditions due to abnormal breathing. They are usually caused by abnormally fast or slow breathing. Hyperventilation results in low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood, while hypoventilation results in high levels of carbon dioxide. Both these conditions can lead to life-threatening complications and should be treated immediately in the emergency care unit.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Hyperventilation 
3. What is Hypoventilation
4. Similarities – Hyperventilation and Hypoventilation
5. Hyperventilation vs Hypoventilation in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Hyperventilation vs Hypoventilation

What is Hyperventilation?

Hyperventilation is a condition that occurs when people breathe fast and exhale more than they inhale. This leads to low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. Hyperventilation mainly occurs due to a panic attack or sudden anxiety episode. During such a situation, the fight and flight response is activated, which can lead to an intense cascade of uncomfortable symptoms. The other causes include bleeding, use of stimulants, drug overdose, severe pain, pregnancy, infections in the lungs, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart attack, diabetic ketoacidosis, injuries to the head, traveling to a higher elevation, and hyperventilation syndrome.

The characteristics of hyperventilation may include shortness of breath, gasping for air, breathing feeling shallow and restricted, quicker breathing pace, inability to slow down rapid breathing, feeling of choking, feeling faint, dizzy or lightheaded, bloating, belching, dry mouth, numbness and tingling in the arms or around the mouth, weakness, chest pain, disturbances in sleep, muscle spasms in hands and feet, and palpitations.

Hyperventilation can be diagnosed through physical examination and breathing tests. Furthermore, treatment options for hyperventilation may include breathing techniques (breathe through pursed lips, breathe slowly into a paper bag, breathe into the belly, holding the breath for a while), stress reduction, acupuncture, and medications (alprazolam, doxepin, and paroxetine).

What is Hypoventilation?

Hypoventilation is a condition that occurs when breathing is too slow or shallow. It is also called respiratory distress. If a person undergoes hypoventilation, the body’s carbon dioxide level rises. Ultimately, this leads to a build-up of acid and too little oxygen in the blood. The symptoms of hypoventilation may include tiredness, daytime sleepiness, shortness of breath, slow or shallow breathing, depression, bluish color in the lips, hands, fingers and toes, seizures, confusion, and headaches. The causes of hypoventilation neuromuscular diseases, chest wall deformities, severe obesity, brain injury, sleep apnoea, chronic lung disease like COPD, cystic fibrosis, etc., and certain medications (barbiturates, sedatives, opioids, benzodiazepines).

Hypoventilation can be diagnosed through physical examination, chest X-ray, lung function chest, blood gas test, pulse oximetry, hemoglobin test, and sleep study. Furthermore, treatment options for hypoventilation may include restoring normal breathing, stopping illegal drugs intake,  oxygen therapy, weight loss, CPAP or BiPAP machine to keep the airway open while sleeping,  surgery to correct chest deformities,  and inhaled medications to open airways, and treat ongoing lung diseases.

What are the Similarities Between Hyperventilation and Hypoventilation?

• Hyperventilation and hypoventilation are two respiratory conditions due to abnormal breathing.
• Both these conditions can lead to life-threatening complications.
• Shortness of breath can be present in both conditions.
• Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination.
• They are treated through specific medications and therapies.

What is the Difference Between Hyperventilation and Hypoventilation?

Hyperventilation is when people breathe fast and exhale more than they inhale, while hypoventilation is when people breathe slowly and exhale less than they inhale. Thus, this is the key difference between hyperventilation and hypoventilation. Furthermore, hyperventilation results in low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood, while hypoventilation results in high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood.

The below infographic presents the differences between hyperventilation and hypoventilation in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Hyperventilation vs Hypoventilation

Hyperventilation and hypoventilation are two respiratory conditions due to abnormal breathing patterns. Both these conditions should be immediately treated in a hospital setup. Hyperventilation occurs when people breathe fast and exhale more than they inhale, while hypoventilation occurs when people breathe slowly and exhale less than they inhale. So, this is the key difference between hyperventilation and hypoventilation.

Reference:

1. “Hyperventilation.” Johns Hopkins Medicine.
2. Azzollini, Meena. “What Is Respiratory Depression (Hypoventilation)?” Verywell Mind.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Hyperventilation vs Hyperpnea” By Scientific Animations (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “CPAP machine for obstructive hypoventilation syndrome2” By Ashashyou – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia