Bradypnea is abnormally slow

breathing Breathing (or ventilation) is the process of moving air into and from the lungs to facilitate gas exchange with the internal environment, mostly to flush out carbon dioxide and bring in oxygen. All aerobic creatures need oxygen for cellular ...

. The

respiratory rate The respiratory rate is the rate at which breathing occurs; it is set and controlled by the respiratory center of the brain. A person's respiratory rate is usually measured in breaths per minute. Measurement The respiratory rate in humans is mea ...

at which bradypnea is diagnosed depends on the age of the person, with the limit higher during childhood.

Age ranges

* Age 0–1 year < 30 breaths per minute * Age 1–3 years < 25 breaths per minute * Age 3–12 years < 20 breaths per minute * Age 12–50 years < 12 breaths per minute * Age 50 and up <13 breaths per minute

Signs and symptoms

*Dizziness *Near-fainting (drowsiness) or fainting *

Fatigue Fatigue describes a state of tiredness that does not resolve with rest or sleep. In general usage, fatigue is synonymous with extreme tiredness or exhaustion that normally follows prolonged physical or mental activity. When it does not resolve ...

*Weakness *Chest pains *

Shortness of breath Shortness of breath (SOB), also medically known as dyspnea (in AmE) or dyspnoea (in BrE), is an uncomfortable feeling of not being able to breathe well enough. The American Thoracic Society defines it as "a subjective experience of breathing disc ...

*Memory impairment or confusion *Tiring easily during any physical activity

Causes

*Degeneration of heart tissue because of aging *Damage to tissues in the heart from heart attack, heart disease or injury *High blood pressure or

hypertension Hypertension (HTN or HT), also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms. Long-term high bl ...

*Congenital heart defect which is a permanent disorder present at birth *Heart tissue infection also known as myocarditis -Complication of heart surgery *

Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism (also called ''underactive thyroid'', ''low thyroid'' or ''hypothyreosis'') is a disorder of the endocrine system in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. It can cause a number of symptoms, such as po ...

or an underactive thyroid glandWilliams, Mark.
"The Basic Geriatric Respiratory Examination."
Medscape. 25 Nov 2009. *Imbalance of electrolytes which are mineral related substances needed for conducting electrical impulses *

Obstructive sleep apnea Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder and is characterized by recurrent episodes of complete or partial obstruction of the upper airway leading to reduced or absent breathing during sleep. These episod ...

which is the repeated disruption of breathing during sleep due to obstruction to the airway *Inflammatory disease, such as lupus or rheumatic fever *Buildup of iron in the organs known as

hemochromatosis Iron overload or hemochromatosis (also spelled ''haemochromatosis'' in British English) indicates increased total accumulation of iron in the body from any cause and resulting organ damage. The most important causes are hereditary haemochromatosi ...

*Medications, such as drugs for other heart rhythm disorders as well as high blood pressure and narcotic pain medications may also decrease respiratory rate *

Dysautonomia Dysautonomia or autonomic dysfunction is a condition in which the autonomic nervous system (ANS) does not work properly. This may affect the functioning of the heart, bladder, intestines, sweat glands, pupils, and blood vessels. Dysautonomia has m ...

(dysfunction of the

autonomic nervous system The autonomic nervous system (ANS), formerly referred to as the vegetative nervous system, is a division of the peripheral nervous system that supplies viscera, internal organs, smooth muscle and glands. The autonomic nervous system is a control ...

)

Treatment

If urgent treatment is needed,

supplemental oxygen Oxygen therapy, also known as supplemental oxygen, is the use of oxygen as medical treatment. Acute indications for therapy include hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels), carbon monoxide toxicity and cluster headache. It may also be prophylactical ...

is given to the individual. Treatments can range from surgery to correct dangerous intracranial pressure, to stays in rehabilitation facilities for bradypnea caused by addiction problems.

Etymology and pronunciation

The word ''bradypnea'' uses combining forms of '' brady-'' + '' -pnea'', from (

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

from ''bradys'', slow + ''pnoia'', breath. See pronunciation information at ''dyspnea''.

References

External links

{{Circulatory and respiratory system symptoms and signs Breathing abnormalities