What condition may result when a person breathes in and out too quickly under stress?

When a person breathes in and out too quickly, especially during stressful situations, they can experience hyperventilation. This condition occurs when the rate and depth of breathing exceed the body’s need for oxygen, leading to a decrease in carbon dioxide levels in the blood. The rapid breathing may cause symptoms such as lightheadedness, tingling in the fingers and toes, and even feelings of anxiety or panic, which can further exacerbate the rapid breathing.

Hyperventilation is commonly linked to stress or anxiety, making it more likely to occur in high-pressure situations. Understanding this response is crucial for pilots, as recognizing hyperventilation can assist in managing stress and maintaining effective control of the aircraft.

The other choices involve different physiological responses or conditions that are not directly caused by rapid breathing alone. Hypoxia relates to insufficient oxygen reaching the body's tissues but is driven by altitude or other factors. Heat exhaustion is a heat-related illness due to excessive body temperature, and a panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear or anxiety that may include hyperventilation among other symptoms, but it is not defined by the breathing pattern itself.