Hyperpnea and Hyperventilation

Hyperventilation is a condition where the rate and depth of breathing exceed the body's need to remove CO₂, often occurring during anxiety attacks.

Excessively low CO₂ levels in the blood cause the cerebral blood vessels to constrict and reduce brain perfusion, which can result in dizziness or fainting.

Hyperventilation can also induce tingling and muscle spasms in the hands and face.

Breathing into a paper bag can slow down the breathing. The exhaled air inside the bag is rich in CO₂, which helps restore CO₂ levels in the bloodstream and reduce the respiratory rate.

Hyperpnea is an increase in ventilation in response to metabolic needs, often seen when physical activity increases oxygen consumption in active muscles.

During exercise, adjustments by the medullary respiratory centers ensure that the arterial CO₂ and O₂ levels and their respective partial pressures remain constant.

In summary, hyperventilation is an abnormal breathing pattern that leads to decreased CO₂ in the blood, while hyperpnea is a response to metabolic needs to ensure stable amounts of CO₂ and O₂ levels in the blood.