Respiratory rate

(Redirected from Breathing rate)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Respiratory rate

WikiDoc Resources for Respiratory rate

Articles

Most recent articles on Respiratory rate

Most cited articles on Respiratory rate

Review articles on Respiratory rate

Articles on Respiratory rate in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Respiratory rate

Images of Respiratory rate

Photos of Respiratory rate

Podcasts & MP3s on Respiratory rate

Videos on Respiratory rate

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Respiratory rate

Bandolier on Respiratory rate

TRIP on Respiratory rate

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Respiratory rate at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Respiratory rate

Clinical Trials on Respiratory rate at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Respiratory rate

NICE Guidance on Respiratory rate

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Respiratory rate

CDC on Respiratory rate

Books

Books on Respiratory rate

News

Respiratory rate in the news

Be alerted to news on Respiratory rate

News trends on Respiratory rate

Commentary

Blogs on Respiratory rate

Definitions

Definitions of Respiratory rate

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Respiratory rate

Discussion groups on Respiratory rate

Patient Handouts on Respiratory rate

Directions to Hospitals Treating Respiratory rate

Risk calculators and risk factors for Respiratory rate

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Respiratory rate

Causes & Risk Factors for Respiratory rate

Diagnostic studies for Respiratory rate

Treatment of Respiratory rate

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Respiratory rate

International

Respiratory rate en Espanol

Respiratory rate en Francais

Business

Respiratory rate in the Marketplace

Patents on Respiratory rate

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Respiratory rate

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

The respiratory rate (or respiration rate) is the number of breaths a living being, such as a human, takes per minute.

There is only limited research on monitoring respiratory rate, and these studies have focused on such issues as the inaccuracy of respiratory rate measurement and respiratory rate as a marker for respiratory dysfunction.

Measurement

The human respiration rate is usually measured when a person is at rest and simply involves counting the number of breaths for one minute by counting how many times the chest rises. Respiration rates may increase with fever, illness, and with other medical conditions. When checking respiration, it is important to also note whether a person has any difficulty breathing.

Inaccuracies in respiratory measurement have been reported in the literature. One study compared respiratory rate counted using a 15 second count period, to a full minute, and found significant differences in the rates. Respiratory rates measurement in children under five years, for a 30 second or 60 second period, suggesting the 60 seconds resulted in the least variability. Another study found that rapid respiratory rates in babies, counted using a stethoscope, were 20% to 50% higher than those counted from beside the cot without the aid of the stethoscope. Similar results are seen with animals when they are being handled and not being handled - the invasiveness of touch apparently is enough to make significant changes in breathing.

Normal findings

Normal respiratory rate reported in a healthy adult varies from source to source: between 12 to 20 breaths per minute[1], between 10-14,[2], between 14-18[3], etc. (With such a slow rate, it is best to count the number of breaths over a full minute for accuracy.)

Optimum Breathing

A trained, systematic approach to deep breathing may lower respiration rates in cardiac patients, helping them to maintain healthy blood oxygen levels and become more physically fit. In one study, 15 cardiac patients were assigned to one of two experimental groups. One of the groups learned "complete yoga breathing," a style of respiration that encourages slow, deep breathing at a rate of about six breaths per minute. Those patients continued practicing the breathing method at home for an hour a day. After a month, the patients practicing the breathing technique breathed more slowly, had higher levels of blood oxygen, and performed better on exercise tests. [4]

Average respiratory rates, by age:

  • Newborns: Average 44 breaths per minute
  • Infants: 20-40 breaths per minute
  • Preschool children: 20-30 breaths per minute
  • Older children: 16-25 breaths per minute
  • Adults: 12 to 20 breaths per minute

Minute Volume

Respiratory minute volume is the volume of air which can be inhaled (inhaled minute volume) or exhaled (exhaled minute volume) from a person's lungs in one minute.

Diagnostic value

The value of respiratory rate as an indicator of potential respiratory dysfunction has been investigated but findings suggest it is of limited value.

One study found that only 33% of people presenting to an emergency department with an oxygen saturation below 90% had an increased respiratory rate. An evaluation of respiratory rate for the differentiation of the severity of illness in babies under 6 months found it not to be very useful. Approximately half of the babies had a respiratory rate above 50 breaths per minute, thereby questioning the value of having a "cut-off" at 50 breaths per minute as the indicator of serious respiratory illness.

It has also been reported that factors such as crying, sleeping, agitation and age have a significant influence on the respiratory rate. As a result of these and similar studies the value of respiratory rate as an indicator of serious illness is limited.

Related Chapters

References


Template:WikiDoc Sources