Question

A patient with anxiety is hyperventilating resulting in respiratory alkalosis and experiences cramping in the feet, numbness around the mouth, and tingling of the fingertips. Explain why these symptoms are seen.

Answer 1

Anxiety can cause Hyperventilation,

When panic and anxiety occur, our breathing may become more shallow and restricted. Instead of filling the lungs with full, complete breaths, we take in quick and short breaths. This is Known as hyperventilation- people will exhale more than they inhale - this over-breathing causes carbon dioxide levels in the blood to decrease. Along with the rapid breathing and low CO2level in the blood lead to Respiratory alkalosis(it is a medical condition in which increased respiration elevates the blood pH beyond the normal range (7.35–7.45)) with a concurrent reduction in arterial levels of carbon dioxide. While oxygen is abundant in the bloodstream, HVS reduces the effective delivery of that oxygen to vital organs due to low-CO2-induced vasoconstriction and the suppressed Bohr effect resulting in less O2 and an increase PH of blood.

Reduction of carbon dioxide can cause many physical symptoms, such as tingling and numbness, chest pain and dry mouth.

Low carbon dioxide levels lead to narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. This reduction in blood supply to the brain leads to symptoms like lightheadedness and tingling in the fingers. The carpopedal spasm occurs when acute hypocarbia causes reduced ionized calcium and phosphate levels, resulting in involuntary contraction of the feet or (more commonly) the hands and also in feet.