Friday, June 25, 2004

Hyperventilation

Hyperventilation means breathing faster than normal. Hyperventilating can be scary for any child or adult. When you hyperventilate, your heart pounds and it feels like you can't get enough air. Your arms, legs, and mouth tingle and may feel numb because you give off too much carbon dioxide in the exhaled air. This makes the carbon dioxide level in your blood and brain tissue fall. Other symptoms and signs include visual changes, a feeling of impending doom, and sometimes loss of consciousness.

The symptoms usually last 20-30 minutes, but it may seem like hours to anyone having them. Though scary, hyperventilation is not usually dangerous.

Causes of Hyperventilation
Anxiety (the most common cause)
Severe stomach pains
Heart or lung disease
Extensive physical injuries
Panic attacks
Disorders of the central nervous system

Prevention
Probably the best way to prevent hyperventilation is to avoid situations and activities that cause anxiety. To help yourself or your child avoid hyperventilating:
Learn meditation and practice it every day. Meditation is a form of mental relaxation. It relieves stress as you focus on a single word or visual image.
Practice relaxing your muscles.
Lie down in a quiet room.
Close your eyes and take deep breaths.
Start with your feet. Tense the muscles in one foot, hold for 10 seconds, and relax them.
Repeat with the other foot.
Then, tense and relax the muscles in your legs. Then repeat with the muscles in your back,
stomach, hands, arms, shoulders, neck, and face.
Talk to friends, family, or even a counselor to help relieve anxiety.
Keep a journal to help you focus on your problems and find solutions you can live with.
Exercise on a regular basis. People in good physical shape are less likely to buckle under stress.
Reduce caffeine. Drink less coffee, tea, and colas. Eat less chocolate.

||:PreCiouS:||
6/25/2004 08:39:00 PM
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.The Writer.

I love standing in the rain, letting the feel of raindrops caress feverish skin, letting it wash away my thoughts, worries and pain. I love the feel of sand between my toes, the cool wind whispering in my ear, the soothing sound of the sea, the warmth of a hug. I love anything vintage, historical, mysterious and magical. I like to laugh, I like freedom and happiness, I like the idea of romance, being swept off my feet and happy endings. I currently have no idea where i'm going but i know i'll get where i'm suppose to be in due time. I want things i cant have, I dream of things that can never be but i'm too afraid to leave the things i'm familiar with even when i know i'm adaptable to change. I can be the person you love or hate, like or loath, admire or envy. I am not perfect,
I am just me.