Paroxysmal atrial arrhythmias induced by hyperventilation

A healthy young man is described who, during a period of severe emotional distress, consistently developed a cardiac arrhythmia while hyperventilating. The arrhythmia was not mediated through specific blood gas or pH changes. Although the lack of previous reports documenting the simultaneous appearance and discontinuation of hyperventilation and paroxysmal arrythmias suggests that such occurrences are not common, it would appear worthwhile to look for this association in anxious patients complaining of palpitations and in others who display paroxysmal arrhythmias.