Which of the following is a symptom of hyperventilation?

Which of the following is a symptom of hyperventilation?

• A. Anxiety
• B. Over-breathing
• C. Flushed skin
• D. Tingling

Answer: (B)

Hyperventilation means breathing faster or more deeply than the body needs, so the defining sign is over-breathing. This excessive breathing directly shows what’s happening in the lungs and chest during hyperventilation. Other options can occur alongside it—anxiety is common, tingling can happen due to the resulting low CO2, and flushed skin isn’t a typical hallmark—but they aren’t the movement the body is making. So the best indicator of hyperventilation is over-breathing.

Hyperventilation means breathing faster or more deeply than the body needs, so the defining sign is over-breathing. This excessive breathing directly shows what’s happening in the lungs and chest during hyperventilation. Other options can occur alongside it—anxiety is common, tingling can happen due to the resulting low CO2, and flushed skin isn’t a typical hallmark—but they aren’t the movement the body is making. So the best indicator of hyperventilation is over-breathing.