Some causes of sudden hyperventilation include anxiety, fever, some medicines, intense exercise, and emotional stress. Hyperventilation also can occur because of problems caused by asthma or emphysema or after a head injury.

What is the origin of hyperventilate?

Hyperventilate combines the Greek hyper-, "over" or "beyond," and ventilate, from the Latin ventilare, "fan" or "agitate."

What is the purpose of hyperventilating?

The goal in treating hyperventilation is to raise the carbon dioxide level in the blood.