Hyperventilation can cause wicked cramping (hexbear.net)

submitted 2 days ago by john_brown@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

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I got food poisoning and ended up going to the ER last night because I lost control of my upper body. Apparently hyperventilation (while puking my guts out) can reduce the amount of CO2 in your blood stream, making your blood mildly acidic. Before I went to the hospital I was laid out on the ground, unable to control my arms which were partially bent with my hands balled into tight painful fists. Thought I was dying.

So, pro tip, if you're ever hyperventilating and your upper body gets tingly and starts to cramp up, try your hardest to regulate your breath.

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[-] Diva@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 days ago

I learned to do some Buteyko breathing techniques, which uses this principle as a way to help some chronic conditions.

My main takeaway was to focus on nasal breathing, controlled breathing patterns, and reducing over time the amount that you inhale unless necessary to operate.

[-] Lyudmila@hexbear.net 2 points 2 days ago

Definitely helpful for asthma and may also be helpful for some forms of Sleep Apnea. Unfortunately there's lots of medical disinfo surrounding BBT for other conditions it couldn't possibly impact and highly exaggerated efficacy for the few conditions within the realm of being physically possible to effect.

People will really act like it's Hamon breathing and can cure anything... Nope, just helps reduce hyperventilation. Physically impossible for it to improve lung function or cure diabetes for example.

[-] Thordros@hexbear.net 4 points 2 days ago

I did actually manifest a stando doing BBT, so maybe they're on to something.

[-] Diva@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago

Oh yeah, my experience is using it with asthma, particularly aggravated by exercise. Reducing hyperventilation actually helped reduced symptoms that persisted despite being otherwise well controlled on medication. Unfortunately you're right it did go trending at some point so there's all sorts of harmful bullshit out there.