Bradypnea

Bradypnea or bradypnoea is abnormally slow breathing. The respiratory rate at which bradypnea is diagnosed depends on the age of the patient.

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

Symptoms

• Dizziness
• Near-fainting or fainting
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Chest pains
• Shortness of breath
• 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 or heart disease
• High blood pressure or hypertension
• Congenital heart defect which is disorder present at birth
• Heart tissue infection also known as myocarditis -Complication of heart surgery
• Hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid gland
• Imbalance of electrolytes which are mineral related substances needed for conducting electrical impulses
• Obstructive sleep apnea which is the repeated disruption of breathing during sleep.
• Inflammatory disease, such as lupus or rheumatic fever
• Buildup of iron in the organs known as hemochromatosis
• Medications, such as drugs for other heart rhythm disorders as well as high blood pressure and narcotic pain medications may also reduce respiratory rate

Treatment

If urgent treatment is needed, supplemental oxygen is given to the individual. Treatment can range from surgery to correcting dangerous intracranial pressure.

Etymology and pronunciation

The word bradypnea uses combining forms of brady- + -pnea, from (Greek from bradys, slow + pnoia, breath. See pronunciation information at dyspnea.

See also

• List of terms of lung size and activity
• Respiratory rate

References

• Stegman, Julie K. (2006). Stedman, Thomas Lathrop, ed. Stedman's Medical Dictionary (28th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 250. ISBN 0781733901.