Hyperventilation can cause wicked cramping (hexbear.net)

submitted 19 hours 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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[-] AlmightyDoorman@kbin.earth 13 points 19 hours ago

Hey, just some explanation. When you hyperventilate you breath out more CO2 than your body produces, this makes your blood more alkalic (increasing the PH, kinda makes sense, carbonated water with a lot of CO2 is more acidic). This changes protein structures, allowing more proteins to bind calcium, which reduces your amount of free calcium. This changes how fast your muscles react and leads to uncontrollable cramps.