National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Practice Exam

Which of the following is not a symptom of hyperventilation?

1. Rapid heartbeat

2. Lightheadedness

3. Coughing

4. Panic-stricken appearance

The correct answer is: Coughing

Hyperventilation is characterized by rapid or deep breathing, leading to a decrease in carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which can result in various physiological symptoms. The symptoms commonly associated with hyperventilation include rapid heartbeat, lightheadedness, and a panic-stricken appearance, all of which are responses to the body's state of stress and reduced carbon dioxide levels. Coughing, however, is generally not a direct symptom of hyperventilation. It is often associated with respiratory issues such as infections or irritations in the airways but does not typically arise from the hyperventilation process itself. While a patient in a hyperventilation episode may have a cough due to another underlying condition, coughing does not relate to the body's immediate response to the hyperventilation state. Therefore, identifying coughing as not a symptom of hyperventilation aligns with the understanding of the characteristic manifestations of this condition.