6. Hyperventilation Syndrome
Also called the hypocapnia syndrome, the hyperventilation syndrome has a difficult name but is by no means a disease.
Some new students inadvertently start hyperventilating while practicing esophageal speech when overdoing the production of the "ah-ah-ah" sound to the point of sweating. As they pronounce "ah," the cloth from the tracheostoma protector flies up and the tracheostoma exhibits a distorted and violent wheezing, after which the person may suddenly become pale and exhibit a cold sweat, vertigo, nausea, numbness of limbs and/or dyspnea. Some people may almost pass out.
These symptoms are caused by alkalization of the blood resulting from too much oxygen in the blood. Violent respiration during practice can cause this. The amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide is well balanced in ordinary individuals.
In hyperventilation, however, the inhalation of oxygen ends with the opposite result. Do not attempt to administer oxygen to such victims, even if they complain of difficulty in breathing.
Cover the tracheostoma with a vinyl bag to build up carbon dioxide through natural exhalation, and the victim will soon recover.
Be sure to instruct students about this so that they do not practice much too suddenly.
