You’ve probably seen people on television shows grab a paper bag to breath into when they become panicked and start to hyperventilate, but just why is it that paper bags are used in that way? Well, this is an actual practice known in the wonderful world of medical literature as ‘rebreathing’. It has been known for years as an easy way to ease rapid, uncontrolled breathing, although it is certainly not without its own risks and issues.
Hyperventilating means breathing more deeply and rapidly than normal, and is often associated with feelings of dizziness or tingling. Fainting often occurs, and the situation itself is usually brought on due to an intense or threatening occurrence.
Essentially, air is moved in and out of the lungs too quickly for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide to occur normally. This means that, despite frantic breathing, the level of carbon dioxide in the blood drops below normal, causing calcium levels to drop and affecting the nerves.
The rebreathing method helps prevent this from happening since the paper bag will become more and more filled with carbon dioxide. When you breathe it back in the level of carbon dioxide will be greater than normal, increasing the amount in the bloodstream and restoring the body’s calcium levels. This will reverse the negative effects of hyperventilation, and should help bring the person in question back to normal.
So, now you know how it works, you’re probably wondering whether you should do it. Put simply, rebreathing using a paper bag does work, but it isn’t a sensible option. Anxiety attacks can easily be helped using this method, but such attacks are somewhat similar to the sensation associated with having a diabetic problem, cardiac problem, or asthma attack. Taking in more carbon dioxide than normal during that period will make the problem even worse.
Breathing into a paper bag helps restore your body’s calcium and carbon dioxide levels, often ensuring that a panic attack remains manageable. However, it comes with its own risks, so using one is not recommended by medical professionals.
