Matt B.

Wow! Thanks for all of the great replies! Just wanted to let you all know I'm getting my test back on Thursday 4/16 so I will be sure to let you know if I got that question right. I did put A as the answer.

Its the "almost always" part that throws you off because hyperventilation is commonly caused by stress and anxiety but not always. Answer C doesn't seem right because I believe a patient can hyperventilate from a head injury or diabetic emergency

My EMT instructor was going over questions for the upcoming test the other day and he gave us this one:

1) Which of the following statements about hyperventilation is false?

a. Hyperventilation is almost always due to psychogenic stress.

b. Hyperventilation frequently causes numbness and or tingling and spasms in the hands and fingers.

c. Hyperventilation may be a sign of head injury or diabetic problem or overdose.

d. Psychogenic hyperventilation rarely causes cyanosis.

He claimed that he thought the correct answer was C but after going over my notes it seems like the answer should be A. Could I get your opinion on this? Which answer do you think is right?