The bradypnea is a term used to refer to a decrease in respiratory rate. It is a sign that accompanies various disorders of the respiratory system.
Bradypnea must be differentiated from two related terms. On the one hand we have dyspnoea, which is a condition where breathing is carried out with difficulty. Another is the apneawhere there is an absence of respiration.
normal respiratory rate
Under normal conditions Adults breathe in an average of 12 to 20 times every minute. Children usually have a greater number of breaths that reach 25. In the case of babies and children in the lactation stage, the respiratory frequency is between 25. When this frequency decreases below 12 breaths per minute, it is called bradypnea.
In order to determine the respiratory rate, it is necessary to watch the person while breathing. It can also be done during auscultation of the chest.
Main causes of bradypnea
The respiratory rate can decrease in various disorders, mainly:
– In people who carry out sports trainingsince they have a greater efficiency in the consumption of oxygen.
– When there is involvement of the muscles related to breathing, as is the case of the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm muscle. This occurs as a consequence of some diseases of the nervous system that are accompanied by muscular paralysis.
– In traumatic conditions when there are fractures of the ribs and/or the sternum. In these cases, the person breathes less frequently as a mechanism to avoid pain.
– In people who suffer from diseases that obstruct the normal passage of air through the bronchi, mainly in asthmatics and emphysematous patients with chronic bronchitis. In both cases, inspiration and expiration are prolonged in time, producing a decrease in the number of breaths.
– Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. Excess alcohol is capable of depressing the function of the respiratory system, producing bradypnea.
– use of medications. Some medications such as sedatives could decrease the respiratory rate, producing bradypnea. This also occurs with those who take opioid-based pain medication (derivatives of morphine).
What to do in case of bradypnea?
Before taking any action it is necessary to identify the cause.
If the person is stable and can breathe without difficulty, it is advisable to see a doctor to assess whether there is any damage to the respiratory system or nervous system that is causing this condition.
In the case of people with a history of asthma or chronic bronchitis, it is important to give them the rescue medication they use in this type of situation. These mainly include bronchodilator medicines that are used as inhalers or as a nebulizer.
People who have bradypnea and also show signs of difficulty breathing (such as loud sounds when taking a breath, pulling in of the muscles between the ribs or over the collarbones, or flaring of the nose) should be immediately transported to an emergency unit. . In this condition, the oxygen supply to the various tissues can be compromised, which can cause serious damage and sequelae.
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