DANB General Chairside Practice Test

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Why is a hyperventilating patient instructed to breathe into cupped hands?

To reduce anxiety during the episode
To remind them to calm down
To increase the carbon dioxide levels
To enhance oxygen intake

The correct answer is: To increase the carbon dioxide levels

Instructing a hyperventilating patient to breathe into cupped hands primarily aims to increase the levels of carbon dioxide in their bloodstream. When a person hyperventilates, they expel a significant amount of carbon dioxide, leading to a state of respiratory alkalosis, which can cause symptoms such as lightheadedness, tingling in the extremities, and anxiety. By breathing into cupped hands, the patient re-breathes some of the exhaled carbon dioxide, helping to restore balance to the carbon dioxide levels in their blood. This technique serves as a simple and effective method to alleviate the physiological effects of hyperventilation by counteracting the loss of carbon dioxide.