To manage hyperventilation, a patient is instructed to breathe into what?

To manage hyperventilation, instructing a patient to breathe into a paper bag or cupped hands can help them regain control of their breathing by increasing carbon dioxide levels in the blood. During hyperventilation, a person exhales too much carbon dioxide, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, tingling, and lightheadedness. By breathing back in the air from the paper bag or cupped hands, the patient is able to re-inhale some of the carbon dioxide they just exhaled, which can help counteract the effects of hyperventilation.

Using both methods—breathing into a paper bag and cupping hands—serves the same purpose and can provide options based on patient comfort or availability of materials. It is crucial to monitor the patient closely during this process, as the goal is to help them achieve normal breathing patterns and relieve their symptoms effectively.

In contrast, other options listed do not effectively address hyperventilation. A fan, for instance, is not beneficial in this context since it introduces fresh air that would not help in re-inhaling carbon dioxide and could potentially exacerbate the hyperventilation symptoms. Thus, the answer includes both breathing into a paper bag and cupped hands as valid techniques for managing hyperventilation