Lip Numbness, or tingling around the mouth, is a common symptom associated with hyperventilation. If the lip numbness occurs frequently it may be a result of hyperventilation syndrome; an umbrella term for a cluster of symptoms related to chronic over-breathing.
When we over-breathe, we blow off carbon dioxide (CO2). Since CO2 is an acid, if we have relatively less of it in our body than normal, the body becomes more alkaline. This is called respiratory alkalosis and it means the pH, or acid-alkaline ratio has increased due to over-breathing. Our bodies are remarkable machines and they do everything they can to fix things if there is any imbalance. In this case it will go to extraordinary measures to restore the acid-alkaline balance. If we keep over-breathing, which people with chronic hyperventilation will do without even realizing it, then the body has to come up with a way of restoring the pH to normal. It does this by excreting in the urine an alkaline compound called bicarbonate. This will, in most cases, restore the pH to normal but it will also result in low blood bicarbonate levels.
The lip numbness commonly experienced with chronic hyperventilation is due to nerve hyper-excitability and biochemical changes within the cells as a result of low CO2 and low bicarbonate. The lip numbness is usually, but not always, accompanied by tingling in the arms or hands. Other common symptoms of chronic hyperventilation include; dizziness; chest tightness and maybe chest pain; headaches; an inability to take a deep breath; panic and anxiety; bloated stomach; an inability to exercise. The symptoms may be present most of the day, but typically they come and go and are often related to stress. Someone who routinely hyperventilates may not suffer any symptoms on a normal day, but if the body has to deal with an increase in stress - and this may be emotional stress or an illness such as a cold or an outbreak of cold sores - then the increase in breathing that this generates will bring on symptoms. A chronic over-breather does not have the capacity to increase breathing further without setting off some unpleasant symptoms like lip numbness.
What can be done to reverse this problem? Lip numbness and other symptoms associated with chronic hyperventilation are not typically life threatening, but there is no doubt they are unpleasant, and a sign that things are not right within the body. The answer lies in learning to breathe less. This might sound like a simple matter - "OK, I'll just breathe less," but in almost all cases professional help is required. When someone with chronic hyperventilation tries to reduce their breathing it is perceived by the body as suffocation. The brain has become accustomed to a decreased level of CO2 in the blood and alveoli, so when breathing less increases CO2, this feels like suffocation. There are steps to take to work through this and a trained professional can help. Also, many people with chronic hyperventilation are also chronic upper chest breathers. They need to learn to re-activate their diaphragms and breathe differently, as well as to breathe less. This is a process that takes a few weeks to a few months depending upon how long standing and complex the problem is. Mostly it involves replacing a bad habit with a good habit and psychologists have worked out that this takes at least 21 days of constant practice.
If you are experiencing frequent lip numbness and/or any of the other symptoms typical to hyperventilation syndrome then talk to your doctor. You can also find professional help to restore normal breathing by searching on the internet for trained practitioners. Buteyko Breathing specialists can help, as can physiotherapists or physical therapists with specialized training in this area.
