What is the term for slow breathing?
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Breathing that stops from any cause is called apnea. Slowed breathing is called bradypnea. Labored or difficult breathing is known as dyspnea. Show Considerations
Apnea can come and go and be temporary. This can occur with obstructive sleep apnea, for example. Prolonged apnea means a person has stopped breathing. If the heart is still active, the condition is known as respiratory arrest. This is a life-threatening event that requires immediate medical attention and first aid. Prolonged apnea with no heart activity in a person who is not responsive is called cardiac (or cardiopulmonary) arrest. In infants and children, the most common cause of cardiac arrest is respiratory arrest. In adults, the opposite usually occurs, cardiac arrest leads to respiratory arrest.
Causes
Breathing difficulty can occur for many different reasons. The most common causes of apnea in infants and small children are usually different from the most common causes in adults. Common causes of breathing difficulties in infants and young children include:
Common causes of breathing trouble (dyspnea) in adults include:
Other causes of apnea include:
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Seek immediate medical attention or call your local emergency number (such as 911) if a person with any type of breathing problem:
If a person has stopped breathing, call for emergency help and perform CPR (if you know how). When in a public place, look for an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and follow the directions. CPR CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is an emergency lifesaving procedure that is done when someone's breathing or heartbeat has stopped... Read Article Now
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
CPR or other emergency measures will be done in an emergency room or by an ambulance emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic. Once the person is stable, the health care provider will do a physical exam, which includes listening to heart sounds and breath sounds. Heart sounds A heart murmur is a blowing, whooshing, or rasping sound heard during a heartbeat. The sound is caused by turbulent (rough) blood flow through the h... Read Article Now Questions will be asked about the person's medical history and symptoms, including: Time pattern
Recent health history
Diagnostic tests that may be done include:
Open References ReferencesDonoghue AJ, Berg RA, Nadkarni V. Pediatric resuscitation. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 10. Ward KR, Kurz MC, Neumar RW. Adult resuscitation. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 9. What does slow breathing indicate?Bradypnea is when a person's breathing is slower than usual for their age and activity levels. For an adult, this will be under 12 breaths per minute. Slow breathing can have many causes, including heart problems, brain stem problems, and drug overdose.
What is Tachypnea and bradypnea?Bradypnea is a respiratory rate that is lower than normal for age. Tachypnea is a respiratory rate that is greater than the normal for age. Hyperpnea in increased volume with or without an increased rate of breathing.
What is slow and shallow breathing called?Respiratory depression, or hypoventilation, refers to a slow, shallow breathing rate. There are many causes, some of which are more serious than others.
What happens if you breathe slower?Slow breathing (or: belly breathing, diaphragmatic breathing) helps expand your lungs and increases efficiency in oxygen absorption and supply. It massages all your organs, strengthens the muscles of your chest, improves your digestion and the quality of your sleep.
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