Rapid breathing in a person. Frequent breathing during sleep in an adult

Rapid breathing or tachypnea is a symptom that is characteristic of various diseases. The respiratory rate can increase up to 60 times per minute. When an adult is awake, he breathes 16-20 times per minute, and a child takes up to 40 breaths.

Causes of rapid breathing

This pathology appears if the level of oxygen in the blood decreases and carbon dioxide increases. In the human brain, this activates the respiratory center, which sends nerve impulses to the muscles on the chest. The amplitude of respiratory impulses decreases, as a result the body seriously suffers from hypoxia, the walls of the arteries contract, and the blood volume transported throughout the body decreases. A semi-fainting state appears, and...

Tachypnea is also caused by a whole complex of psycho-emotional states and physiological diseases:

heart pathologies;
myocardial infarction;
prolonged pneumonia;
shock or panic attack;
bronchial asthma;
rib pathology;
brain tumors;
bronchial obstruction;
endocrine disorders of the thyroid gland;
CNS lesions;
fever;
hysteria;
sternum injury;
thromboembolism of the pulmonary aorta.

Rapid breathing occurs with an overdose of alcohol, as well as drugs, acute pain, and prolonged stress. Breathing is often rapid in pregnant women or at elevated temperatures, as well as as a result of stressful situations. The person begins to worry, breathe more often, unexpected dizziness, heaviness in the legs and loss of orientation may appear.
Increased breathing at night is often accompanied by nightmares. Tachypnea also occurs during hysterics. Breathing becomes like that of a hunting dog after a long run. In patients with hysterical neurosis, in addition to increased breathing, instability of emotions, as well as attacks of rage, are observed.

Often the number of breaths increases sharply during colds, as well as before and during an asthmatic attack, when a person literally cannot breathe. Chronic bronchitis causes, especially in the morning, frequent coughing with shortness of breath. With chest pain, pneumonia most likely develops.

Tachypnea accompanies both pleurisy and tuberculosis, which include other symptoms - poor appetite, weakness, wet cough, fever. Often, during an exacerbation of chronic cardiovascular diseases, a person begins to breathe quickly and abruptly.

Important! Tachypnea can be pathological and physiological. The causes of the pathology are, as noted above, concomitant diseases and psycho-emotional disorders, which, if left untreated, appear, inhalations deepen, and oxygen starvation of the cells begins.

Increased breathing after active physical activity, running, or prolonged sports is considered normal. If such a condition appears for no reason, accompanied by dry mouth, sharp or aching pain, chills, or a feeling of weakness, then you should immediately call a doctor.

How to eliminate rapid breathing

Pathological tachypnea is a consequence of a more serious pathology, to the elimination of which all efforts must be directed. As part of the treatment of the main pathology, rapid breathing gradually disappears and appears less frequently.

It is necessary to conduct an examination of:

psychiatrist;
cardiologist;
neurologist;
pulmonologist;
therapist;
allergist;
pediatrician (if a teenager or child begins to breathe quickly).

Doctors will prescribe a set of tests that will reveal the underlying pathology that caused the pathological rapid breathing.

To alleviate the condition, you can use a simple paper bag. It will help optimize gas exchange in cells. Make a hole in the bag, then breathe slowly, calmly and evenly into it for 3-5 minutes. The natural rhythm of breathing should be restored.

Note! Relaxing self-hypnosis also helps to calm down during stress. It is best to go out into the fresh air or ventilate the room.

Increased breathing in children

The first thing that is important to note is that if specific breathing appears in children of any age, both during the day and during sleep, you need to contact a pediatrician. A newborn breathes more often than an older child - up to 40 times per minute. A baby from a year and older usually breathes up to 25 times per minute. After physical activity, all children, like adults, experience a natural increase in breathing. It is rhythmic, not very deep, superficial.

Deep exhalations/inhalations or shortness of breath can be caused by neurological disorders and other conditions that can only be identified by a specialist. As in adults, tachypnea in children is caused by stressful situations, the consequences of cardiovascular diseases, colds, allergies and asthma.

Transient tachypnea after birth

This pathology manifests itself immediately after the birth of the baby, especially if not a natural birth was used, but a caesarean section. In a normal birth, intrauterine fluid passes into the blood through the lungs several days before delivery. This does not happen during a cesarean section.

In lungs that have not fully expanded, an excess of intrauterine fluid remains, the ability of the organ itself to saturate the small organism with oxygen is reduced, and slight swelling of their tissues appears. And rapid, shallow breathing temporarily appears, which disappears as fluid leaves the lungs. Not only cesarean, but also premature or rapid labor leads to the appearance of tachypnea in the baby in the first hours after birth.

If there is noisy deep breathing and bluish skin, the help of a neonatologist is needed, who will prescribe a chest x-ray to see severe swelling of the lungs, and also listen to the child using a phonendoscope for the presence or absence of moist rales. It is important to make sure that there is no risk of developing pneumonia.

Rapid breathing is an increase in the frequency of respiratory movements. In medicine, this condition is called “tachypnea.” An adult breathes up to 20 times per minute at rest, this is considered normal. In children, the normal frequency of contractions is up to 40 times. With the symptom of rapid breathing, the frequency of inhalations and exhalations increases up to 60-80 times. This phenomenon occurs in healthy people in stressful situations and during physical activity. But if tachypnea prevails for no apparent reason, you need to figure out why this is happening and what to do about it.

How does rapid breathing manifest itself?

For normal functioning of the body, an adult needs to inhale and exhale 18-20 times per minute. This is enough to provide oxygen to all organs and systems of the body.

The inhalation should be deep, continuous, and should not be accompanied by pain. With tachypnea, a person breathes quickly and shallowly. This describes the main symptom and cause of the phenomenon. The breathing rate increases when oxygen levels in the blood decrease and carbon dioxide levels increase. To restore normal saturation (oxygen saturation), the brain sends many signals to the respiratory center.

Patients often confuse tachypnea with shortness of breath. In the first case, the breath is shallow and sharp, and may be interrupted. With shortness of breath, both the frequency of respiratory movements and their depth increase. Rapid breathing of a pathological nature can turn into shortness of breath if the patient is not treated. The described symptom may be due to simple physiological reasons, or it may be provoked by a disease. Tachypnea is considered normal during physical exercise or stress, cardio training.

In a healthy person, the frequency of inhalations increases in moments of stressful situations, anger or hysteria. Tachypnea caused by physical exertion or emotional shock does not require treatment. When the person is in a calm environment or rests, the symptom will disappear on its own. If breathing becomes frequent and intermittent without any exertion, at rest or sleep, you definitely need to be examined. The cause of this condition can be either a mild illness or a severe pathology.

Why does rapid breathing occur?

Tachypnea in a healthy person during work, sports or stress appears because the body needs to restore strength faster. The same symptom appears in overweight people, and no additional factors are needed to increase breathing. In this case, tachypnea is of a reflex nature; you can get rid of it only by normalizing your weight. An increase in the frequency of inhalations and exits in a calm state serves as a secondary symptom of a serious illness. These may be psychopathologies, diseases of the cardiovascular system, central nervous system disorders, diseases of the respiratory system.

The most common causes of rapid breathing in adults:

bronchial asthma;
heart failure;
anemia;
cardiac ischemia;
heart failure;
pulmonary embolism;
hyperthyroidism;
pulmonary pneumosclerosis;
pleurisy;
pneumonia;
ketoacidosis;
hysteria;
myocardial infarction;
allergic reaction.

With any of these diseases, rapid breathing is not the only symptom. In inflammatory processes, it is accompanied by fever, chills and malaise.

Cardiovascular diseases and pathologies of the respiratory system are accompanied by chest pain, bluish skin and lips, dizziness, and weakness. With airway obstruction, attacks begin in the supine position. If breathing becomes faster when the patient lies on his side, this indicates heart problems. Psychopathologies cause rapid breathing (up to 80 times per minute), trembling and tremors throughout the body, foggy consciousness, sometimes slurred speech and muscle weakness.

The doctor will be able to accurately determine the cause of such manifestations after a thorough examination. There are also factors that increase the risk of tachypnea in a healthy adult. These include constant stressful situations (at work or in the family), smoking, alcohol addiction, abuse of tranquilizers and antidepressants, and poor nutrition. Heavy weight and pregnancy are almost always accompanied by heavy and rapid breathing. With flu, colds, and fever, breathing also quickens, but not significantly.

Rapid breathing in children

Children are characterized by an increased frequency of inhalation and exhalation compared to the norm for adults. Newborns experience what is called transient rapid breathing. It appears in a baby if, after birth, fluid in the lungs is absorbed very slowly. Depending on the situation, a child with tachypnea may be placed on a ventilator. But in most cases, this condition is not dangerous for the newborn; the breathing rhythm is restored after 2-3 days. This most often happens to babies born through Caesarean section.

In children from one to 12 years of age, such symptoms should be closely monitored. If a child at rest or sleep begins to breathe frequently in short breaths, this may indicate one of the above diseases.

For different age groups of children there are norms of breathing movements:

up to 12 months – up to 35 times per minute;
from 2 to 3 years – up to 30 times per minute;
from 5 to 6 years – 25 times per minute;
from 7 to 12 years – 20 times.

If tachypnea in a child recurs for no apparent reason, especially during sleep, you should urgently consult a pediatrician.

Treatment and diagnosis

Delaying a visit to the doctor is dangerous, since rapid breathing in adults and children can be a signal of a serious problem. If such a symptom occurs in conjunction with chest pain, changes in skin color, or fainting, you need to seek help as soon as possible. Since tachypnea is a symptom of a very wide range of diseases, it is better to see a general specialist. First of all, you need to contact a pediatrician, therapist or family doctor. Based on the first examination and complaints, the doctor will determine what tests and examinations are needed.

To make a diagnosis, X-rays, ultrasound, fibrobronchoscopy, blood tests, and listening are used. Based on the general results and symptoms, the diagnosis and treatment tactics are determined. It is impossible to predict what kind of therapy will be, since it depends on the cause of rapid breathing.

Treatment often includes oral medications and rehabilitation procedures (oxygen therapy, physiotherapy, SPA treatments).

It is difficult to accurately prevent tachypnea, since this requires the prevention of dozens of diseases. But you can reduce the risk of rapid breathing. To do this, it is recommended to give up bad habits, engage in feasible physical exercise, and rest after emotional stress. A timely visit to the doctor and examination once a year is the best prevention for all types of diseases.

Intuitively, we associate rapid breathing with a state of excitement. This could be a reaction to a loved one, to pain, to stress. People breathe more often during physical and sports activities, when frightened and in a state of shock. Unfortunately, there are other causes of rapid breathing, most of them have a medical explanation.

What does rapid breathing during sleep mean?

Rapid breathing during sleep occurs in situations when the cerebral cortex enters a state of excitement. It can be caused by REM sleep and the emotional experience of a nightmare, or it can appear due to certain health problems. First of all, with the work of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Due to impaired ventilation of the lungs, or heart rhythm, a person takes a shallow breath. As a result, oxygen starvation occurs and the body tries to restore balance by increasing the inhalation-exhalation rhythm. In a normal state, it is 5-15 cycles per minute; with tachypnea, the number of breaths per minute can reach 60. As a rule, the situation normalizes by itself, or the person wakes up. In this case, further behavior depends on whether breathing has returned to its usual rhythm.

Causes of rapid breathing while awake

A waking person can have many physiological reasons for increased breathing, including physical activity and psycho-emotional states. There is no pathology in this case, and no treatment is required. But in a situation where breathing has become faster due to painful processes, it is extremely important to know the reason. It could be:

Diagnosing each of these diseases is simple if additional symptoms are present - pain, temperature change, cough and others. For example, increased temperature and rapid breathing indicate a febrile state, or an acute infectious process in the lungs and bronchi. Coughing and rapid breathing are signs of asthma, pulmonary embolism, and in some cases, heart attack. In general, heart ailments are often accompanied by spasms in the respiratory organs and a symptom reminiscent of a slight cough.

Causes of rapid breathing

As mentioned above, rapid breathing is a symptom of many conditions in the body. This phenomenon is associated with increased levels of CO 2 in the blood and decreased oxygen levels. The brain understands that there is less oxygen and inhales more quickly.

Frequent breathing (tachypnea) can be caused by the following reasons:

sense of anxiety;
bronchial asthma;
obstructive chronic pulmonary disease;

heart failure;
Tietze syndrome (benign thickening and tenderness of the second, third and fourth pairs of ribs);
various brain tumors;
blockage of veins by a blood clot;
heart attack;
panic attack;
pneumothorax (accumulation of air in the pleural area);
pulmonary edema;
traumatic injury to the chest;
disruption of the central nervous system (meningitis, encephalitis);
feverish condition;
mountain sickness (a condition associated with insufficient oxygen supply to the body);
severe anemia and others.

Tachypnea occurs during alcohol and drug intoxication, severe stress or anxiety. Rapid breathing is normal during exercise.

There are two types of rapid breathing:

physiological - not associated with any abnormalities and is a normal reaction of the body to certain conditions;
pathological - caused by diseases that were described above.

With pathological tachypnea, it is necessary to identify the cause - the underlying disease. To establish the cause, you must consult a doctor and undergo an appropriate examination.

Frequent breathing during sleep

The cause of rapid breathing during sleep may be a nightmare, or other factors that put the brain in an excited state. Breathing may also become more frequent if there are problems with the cardiovascular or respiratory system.

During sleep, the breathing rhythm may become disturbed, and a person may take shallow breaths. This causes rapid breathing. In this case, the person either wakes up or the breathing evens out on its own.

Treatment of pathological tachypnea

Since pathological tachypnea is a consequence, it is necessary to concentrate on the diagnosis and treatment of the underlying disease.

To diagnose the underlying disease, you must first consult a physician. After examination and questioning, the therapist can refer the patient for examinations to other medical specialists, such as a cardiologist, neurologist, allergist, psychiatrist and others.

If such a symptom occurs in a child, you must first contact a pediatrician.

The cause of rapid breathing (tachypnea) in children varies. This condition indicates that the child needs urgent medical attention. Many conditions in children are accompanied by a lack of air. Among them are not only diseases of the respiratory system, but also severe heart defects.

However, in the youngest children the physiological respiratory rate is accelerated. Due to the structure of the chest, newborns experience respiratory arrhythmia, that is, an uneven breathing rate. Moreover, uneven breathing occurs in both premature and full-term babies.

Sometimes a child's rapid breathing may be accompanied by gurgling sounds. These symptoms require urgent consultation with a doctor, because this is how an infectious disease of the respiratory system can develop.

If during tachypnea the child also coughs and breathes very noisily, this indicates the development of false croup. But when displaying various emotions and during physical activity, special monitoring of the child is not required.

Rapid breathing (tachypnea) with heart defects in children

With some congenital heart defects, the following symptoms attract attention:

change in skin color;
facial skin with an unnaturally pale or bluish tint;
limbs swell;
the child screams for no reason, and is scared. During screaming, blue skin and cold sweat appear;
the infant suckles very sluggishly and gains little weight;
sometimes shortness of breath can be observed in children constantly, even at rest;
the heartbeat increases for no reason or, conversely, slows down;
pain in the place where the heart is located.

Often, heart disease in children can occur without significant symptoms. During a thorough examination, the pediatrician notices them.

Children with congenital heart defects should be seen by pediatric cardiologists or pediatricians. Parents do not have to refuse if the doctor offers surgical treatment for a heart defect.

Is croup dangerous?

Croup is an acute obstructive laryngitis. It is characterized by inflammation of the larynx and narrowing of the airways, accompanied by frequent heavy breathing. Those. Tachypnea is one of the symptoms of this condition.

Viral croup is accompanied by a narrowing of the larynx. It is accompanied by a rough barking cough, hoarseness of the voice, and a strong increase in breathing rate. Breathing problems most often occur at night. The breathing rate can increase even to 180 per minute.

With diphtheria there is true croup. The inflammatory process spreads to the vocal cords. In other diseases, so-called false croup occurs. Inflammation spreads to the area of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi.

Typically, croup of a viral nature is self-limiting and rarely leads to the death of the patient. Children feel better if they are taken out into the cold air. The child should be taken to the doctor immediately if the temperature rises to 39 degrees, the lips turn blue, he is extremely lethargic, refuses to go to bed and cannot swallow saliva.

Pulmonary embolism as a cause of tachypnea

This is what is called a blockage of the pulmonary artery (which carries blood from the heart to the lungs) by a blood clot. This condition begins suddenly without any warning signs. The first sign of thromboembolism is sudden severe shortness of breath, tachypnea. Worrying pain in the heart, palpitations, as well as the most dangerous symptom - hemoptysis.

Thromboembolism is very dangerous for humans. In most cases, death occurs within two hours of its onset. So if doctors can keep vital organs functioning longer, it increases the chances of recovery.

Conclusion

So, if a person experiences tachypnea without physical activity, it is necessary to consult a doctor without delay, as rapid breathing can be caused by a serious illness. Sometimes timely seeking medical help increases the chances of recovery and rehabilitation. This is especially true for cases of shortness of breath in children.

The amplitude of respiratory impulses decreases, as a result the body seriously suffers from hypoxia, the walls of the arteries contract, and the blood volume transported throughout the body decreases. A semi-fainting state appears and dizziness begins.

heart pathologies;

Increased breathing at night is often accompanied by nightmares. Tachypnea also occurs during hysterics. Breathing becomes like that of a hunting dog after a long run. In patients with hysterical neurosis, in addition to increased breathing, instability of emotions, as well as attacks of rage, are observed.

How to eliminate rapid breathing

psychiatrist;

Doctors will prescribe a set of tests that will reveal the underlying pathology that caused the pathological rapid breathing.

Increased breathing in children

Transient tachypnea after birth

Transient tachypnea in infants is relieved using an oxygen machine. With this treatment, the pathology goes away without consequences. To prevent it, it is necessary to take measures during pregnancy aimed at preventing premature or rapid labor: eat right, control blood pressure, give up bad habits and promptly treat all infectious and inflammatory diseases.

Rapid breathing

Rapid breathing is a symptom characterized by an excess of the frequency of respiratory movements of the chest per minute, which may indicate the onset of pathological processes or be a variant of the physiological norm.

In medicine, this symptom is called “tachypnea.” It is used in their work by doctors of various profiles: therapists, pulmonologists, cardiologists and others.

Respiratory rate is an unstable indicator in medicine, since its normal values vary depending on the age and weight of the patient. The presence of concomitant diseases, anatomical or physiological characteristics of a person is also important.

Normally, the frequency of respiratory movements in a healthy person during wakefulness should not exceed a minute, and in a child - no more than a minute. During sleep, a decrease in these indicators is permissible, since the activity of the nervous system is suppressed. And under heavy load (heavy physical work, intense sports training), the breathing rate can reach one minute.

Other symptoms that accompany rapid breathing

If we are talking about various diseases, then, as a rule, the patient has one or more of the following symptoms:

deterioration of general health, attacks of severe weakness and malaise;
constant or periodic dizziness, as well as fainting;
the appearance of dark circles before the eyes or “spots”, sudden darkening in the eyes;
inability to take a full breath or exhale, dissatisfaction with the act of breathing;
the appearance of wheezing, which can be heard at a distance, it intensifies when lying down;
chest pain that does not change in intensity with changes in body position;
pathological discharge from the nose, possibly hemoptysis;
swelling of varying severity in the lower extremities;
change in temperature response, increased sweating, dry mouth;
excited or panicky state of the patient, fear of death, inability to adequately assess the situation;
sensitivity in the upper or lower extremities is impaired;
the physiological color of the skin and mucous membranes changes, they become pale or bluish-burgundy.

Physiological causes of rapid breathing

Among the “natural” factors that cause this symptom are the following:

Various types of physical activity or sports. In this case, the breathing rate directly depends on the intensity of these loads and the body’s fitness and can reach per minute.
Children of certain age groups have different limits of normal breathing parameters. This is due to the gradual maturation of the respiratory organs and the formation of regulatory mechanisms at the level of the central nervous system. The normal rate for newborn babies is considered to be respiratory movements per minute.
During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes enormous hormonal and physiological changes, which directly affect the functionality of the respiratory system. The resting respiratory rate can reach up to a minute.
A stressful or exciting situation activates the autonomic nervous system, which affects the frequency of respiratory movements, making them faster.
People who are overweight or obese to varying degrees breathe more frequently than their peers of normal weight.
Being in mountainous areas leads to increased breathing, as a compensatory mechanism to protect the body from low oxygen levels in the surrounding air.

Pathological causes of rapid breathing

The range of diseases that can be accompanied by this symptom is quite wide, among them it is worth highlighting the most common:

Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system (acute or chronic bronchitis, attack of bronchial asthma, pneumothorax, exudative or dry pleurisy, pneumonia and others).
Diseases of the heart and pleura (coronary heart disease, heart attack, pericarditis and others).
Diseases of the endocrine organs (thyroid or adrenal glands).
Acute infectious processes of any localization, accompanied by febrile syndrome (pyelonephritis, mediastinitis and others).
Thromboembolism of branches of the pulmonary artery of different calibers.
Overdose of medications, drugs or alcohol.
Anemia of various nature.
Mental disorders, panic attacks, attacks of hysteria.
Allergic reaction or anaphylactic shock.

Diagnostics

The algorithm for diagnostic measures is extremely diverse, because patients with rapid breathing are encountered in the practice of doctors of completely different specialties.

An objective examination of such patients, as a rule, reveals a number of symptoms that indicate a particular disease.

Laboratory and instrumental examination includes the following procedures:

blood and urine tests;
biochemical blood test;
chest x-ray;
according to indications, they carry out: Echo-CG, SCT of the chest or abdominal cavity, ultrasound of the thyroid gland, bronchoscopy and others.

Treatment

The tactics of patient management in each specific case has its own characteristics and is determined by the root cause of the process. It is necessary to understand that it is the disease that needs to be treated, not the pathological symptom.

Inflammatory diseases of the bronchopulmonary system can be treated with antibacterial agents in combination with symptomatic drugs.

If the cause of rapid breathing lies in diseases of the cardiovascular system, then a combination treatment is carried out, including the use of diuretics, antianginal, vasodilators, antihypertensive drugs and others.

Endocrine pathology is corrected by prescribing appropriate hormonal drugs, and allergic processes can be treated with antihistamines.

At home, you can cope with rapid breathing that occurs against the background of psycho-emotional stress in the following ways:

take the most comfortable position, while it is best to get rid of clothes that are constricting and interfere with breathing, and take off your shoes;
if possible, drink hot tea with soothing herbs or herbal tincture consisting of motherwort and valerian;
You can breathe into a paper bag for several minutes to eliminate symptoms of hyperventilation and normalize the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.

Prevention

The basis of prevention is the timely fight against all chronic diseases and infectious processes in the body.

It is necessary to strengthen the immune system, play sports and lead a healthy lifestyle, take courses of vitamins and restorative medications. Overweight people should adjust their weight.

Before an upcoming exciting event, it is better to take light sedatives based on herbal remedies the day before. If the cause of the attacks is mental disorders, it is recommended to talk with a psychotherapist.

Shaykhnurova Lyubov Anatolyevna

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Rapid breathing

Rapid breathing is an increased rate of respiratory movements, which normally should be no more than fifteen times per minute. It is considered rapid if such fluctuations exceed sixty times per minute.

Such a sign, regardless of physiological or pathological origin, is caused by excitation of the respiratory center. In addition, breathing rate depends on several factors.

The basis of the clinical picture, in addition to the main manifestation, will be the most characteristic symptoms of the disease that acted as the main cause. It is most dangerous if such a symptom occurs at night during sleep. To establish the correct diagnosis, several laboratory tests and instrumental examinations of the patient will be required. In addition, physical examination plays an important role.

Treatment in the vast majority of cases is limited to conservative methods, but sometimes surgery may be necessary.

Etiology

The mechanism for the occurrence of such a symptom is the excitation of the respiratory center, which can occur against the background of any illness or be of a reflex nature.

It often occurs against the background of hyperventilation - this is a condition characterized by frequent and short shallow breaths. They form in the upper part of the sternum and lead to a decrease in carbon dioxide in the blood.

The causes of tachypnea can be caused by diseases and pathological conditions, among which are:

The second category of predisposing factors for the appearance of frequent respiratory movements are those sources that are in no way related to the presence of a particular illness in a person. These include:

abuse of certain drugs;
prolonged exposure to stressful situations or nervous strain - this is the most common reason for the appearance of such a symptom in a child;
excessive physical activity.

Separately, it is worth highlighting transient rapid breathing in a newborn. A similar condition develops in infants in the first few hours after birth. At the same time, they breathe heavily and frequently, and this condition is often accompanied by wheezing when inhaling or exhaling. Due to oxygen deficiency, the skin acquires a bluish tint.

This disorder in the vast majority of cases develops in children born by cesarean section. The main reason for rapid breathing in a child is the slow absorption of fluid in the lungs.

Tachypnea in an infant does not require specific treatment. The baby recovers on his own in about three days. This occurs against the background of the natural disappearance of the predisposing factor. However, in order to maintain the normal condition of the infant, additional oxygen supply will be required.

The frequency of respiratory movements depends on several factors, which include:

individual anatomical features of an adult or child;
general condition of the body;
age category of the person;
body mass index;
presence of chronic diseases in the medical history;
the course of severe pathologies.

Normally, the respiratory rate in adults can reach twenty times per minute, while for children a value of forty times per minute is completely normal.

Classification

Depending on the etiological factor, rapid breathing is divided into:

Their main difference is the presence of shortness of breath at rest or in a horizontal position, which indicates the development of a serious illness.

Symptoms

Rapid breathing often acts as the first clinical manifestation, but it will almost never be the only one. Thus, additional symptoms may include:

severe headaches and dizziness;
increase in body temperature - at fever, profuse cold sweat is often observed;
joint and muscle weakness;
general malaise and decreased performance;
darkening of the eyes;
tingling in the fingertips or area around the mouth;
cough and runny nose - when coughing, expectoration of sputum may be observed. It can be either cloudy or transparent. In addition, it may have a greenish-yellow tint, as well as admixtures of blood or pus;
chills and dry mouth;
pale skin;
shortness of breath - appears not only during physical activity, but also in a horizontal position, in particular after sleep;
speech impairment;
pain and discomfort in the chest;
numbness of the upper or lower extremities;
attacks of loss of consciousness;
heart rate disturbance;
causeless anxiety and panic;
decreased or complete lack of appetite;
the appearance of sounds uncharacteristic of breathing, for example, wheezing, whistling or other noises.

Such symptoms can be attributed to both adults and children, but it must be borne in mind that some of the above signs may be completely absent or fade into the background.

To alleviate the patient’s condition, you can use a regular paper bag, which will help slightly normalize gas exchange in the lungs. To do this, make a small hole in it, after which you breathe slowly, evenly and calmly into it for five minutes. After this time, the normal breathing rhythm is restored. However, this technique should not become an alternative to medical care every time you experience rapid breathing.

Diagnostics

If rapid breathing occurs in an adult or child, especially during sleep, it is necessary to seek qualified help as soon as possible. Due to the fact that a large number of different factors can cause such a manifestation, the following is competent in the matter of diagnosis and prescribing appropriate treatment:

Establishing a correct diagnosis requires an integrated approach, which includes:

studying the patient's medical history and life history;
thorough physical examination and listening using special instruments;
a detailed survey of the patient - to identify the first time of appearance and intensity of the main symptom, the presence of concomitant symptoms;
general and biochemical blood test;
laboratory examination of sputum, if available;
radiography and ultrasound;
fibrobronchoscopy;
CT and MRI.

Depending on what disease or pathological condition is identified during the initial diagnosis, the adult patient or child may be prescribed consultations with doctors from specialized fields of medicine and additional specific laboratory and instrumental examinations.

Treatment

To get rid of the fact that respiratory movements become more frequent, it is necessary to eliminate the provoking disease. Most often patients are shown:

physiotherapy;
oxygen therapy;
pulmonary rehabilitation;
respiratory support;
ensuring physical and emotional peace;
use of anxiolytic drugs.

The treatment regimen, as well as the question of surgical intervention, will be decided individually for each patient. When planning treatment, several factors are taken into account - the severity of the disease that caused rapid breathing, the general condition of the patient and his age category.

Prevention

The following preventive measures will help prevent the occurrence of such a rather specific clinical manifestation:

maintaining a healthy and moderately active lifestyle;
avoiding stress and emotional stress;
taking medications only as prescribed by the clinician, with strict adherence to the dosage and duration of treatment;
timely identification and elimination of those diseases that can lead to rapid breathing;
Regularly undergoing a full medical examination several times a year - this must be done for both adults and children.

Given the fact that tachypnea often develops due to the severe course of a particular disease, there is no clear answer to the question of a favorable prognosis. In any case, early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment increase the chances of a positive outcome. However, patients should not forget that ignoring the symptoms of any disease can lead to the development of life-threatening complications.

“Rapid breathing” is observed in diseases:

Kidney abscess is a rather rare disease, which is characterized by the formation of a limited area of inflammation filled with a purulent infiltrate. The pathological focus is separated from the healthy tissues of this organ by a granulation shaft. The disease is one of the diseases requiring emergency surgical intervention.

Agoraphobia is an illness from the neurotic spectrum, which is classified as an anxiety-phobic disorder. A characteristic manifestation of pathology is the fear of being in public places and open spaces. It is worth noting that agoraphobia includes not only the fear of open space, but also the fear of open doors, fear due to the presence of a large number of people. Usually a person’s feeling of panic arises due to the fact that he does not have the opportunity to hide in a safe place.

Appendicitis in a child is an inflammation of the appendix, which is considered one of the most common urgent ailments in pediatric surgery, since it accounts for approximately 75% of emergency medical operations.

Esophageal atresia is a congenital pathology in which part of the esophagus is missing in a newborn, which leads to esophageal obstruction. The only treatment for this disease is surgery. It should be noted that this kind of pathological process occurs in both boys and girls. In the absence of early surgical intervention, this pathology leads to the death of the newborn.

Bacterial pneumonia is an infection of the lungs with certain bacteria, for example, Haemophilus influenzae or pneumococcus, but if other viral diseases are present in the body, this virus can become the causative agent. Accompanied by symptoms such as fever, severe weakness, cough with sputum, pain in the chest area. Diagnosis is possible using x-rays, blood tests and sputum culture. Treatment is with antibiotics.

Niemann-Pick disease is a hereditary disease in which fat accumulates in various organs, most often in the liver, spleen, brain and lymph nodes. This disease has several clinical forms, each of which has its own prognosis. There is no specific treatment, high risk of death. Niemann-Pick disease affects both males and females equally.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a chronic disease that affects the organs of the respiratory system. It most often develops in infants whose birth weight has not reached 1.5 kilograms. Such a disease belongs to the category of polyetiological diseases, which means that its development is simultaneously influenced by several factors, ranging from the irrational use of a procedure such as artificial ventilation, and ending with burdened heredity.

Gas gangrene is a severe infectious pathology that develops against the background of extensive tissue crushing due to anaerobic microorganisms. Also, the infection can enter the body in the presence of severed limbs, less often - in case of injuries to the large intestine. The reasons for infection entering the body are contamination of wound areas with soil that contains anaerobic infection, as well as scraps of dirty clothing.

Halitosis is characterized by a persistent unpleasant odor from the mouth, which cannot be eliminated with the help of traditional means of hygiene or prevention. The disorder is observed in both adults and children, regardless of age category.

Hydropericardium is an accumulation of fluid in the atrial lining. This disease indicates serious problems in the human body. This phenomenon requires medical attention and emergency care. Every person is susceptible to the disease, regardless of gender and age. Moreover, the disease can be diagnosed even at the stage of intrauterine development of the fetus.

Hypercapnia (syn. hypercarbia) is an increase in carbon dioxide content in the blood, which is caused by impaired breathing processes. The partial voltage exceeds 45 millimeters of mercury. The disease can develop in both adults and children.

Hyperthermia is a protective-adaptive reaction of the human body, which manifests itself in response to the negative effects of various stimuli. As a result, thermoregulation processes in the human body are gradually restructured, and this leads to an increase in body temperature.

Hypokalemia is a pathology that occurs against the background of a decrease in the amount of a trace element such as potassium in the human body. This happens for various reasons, internal or external, and can lead to the development of severe pathologies. Therefore, if the level of potassium in the urine drops below 3.5 mmol/l, doctors sound the alarm and talk about hypokalemia, which requires urgent treatment.

Hypothermia is a pathological decrease in central body temperature in men or women (including a newborn) to a level below 35 degrees. The condition is extremely dangerous for a person’s life (we are no longer talking about complications): if the person is not provided with medical assistance, death occurs.

Purulent rhinitis is a fairly common and at the same time severe pathology, occurring in both children and adults. A feature of this disease is that, in addition to inflammation, a purulent process forms in the nasal mucosa.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a disorder of the ability of blood to clot, which develops against the background of excessive influence of pathological factors. The disease entails the formation of blood clots and damage to internal organs and tissues. This disorder cannot be independent; moreover, the more severe the underlying illness, the more pronounced this syndrome is. In addition, even if the underlying disease affects only one organ, then with the development of thrombohemorrhagic syndrome, the involvement of other organs and systems in the pathological process is inevitable.

Gastric bleeding is a pathological process that is characterized by the leakage of blood from damaged vessels of the stomach into the lumen of the organ. This clinical manifestation can be caused by both a gastroenterological disease and pathology of other organs or systems of the body, uncontrolled use of heavy medications and trauma.

Caisson disease is a pathological condition that progresses due to a person’s transition from an area with elevated atmospheric pressure to an area with normal levels. The disorder gets its name from the process of transition from high blood pressure to normal. Divers and miners who spend a long time at depth are often susceptible to this disorder.

Ketoacidosis is a dangerous complication of diabetes mellitus, which without adequate and timely treatment can lead to diabetic coma or even death. The condition begins to progress when the human body cannot fully use glucose as an energy source because it lacks the hormone insulin. In this case, the compensatory mechanism is activated, and the body begins to use incoming fats as an energy source.

Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital form of narrowing of the lumen of the aorta in one of its segments, localized in the isthmus zone, i.e., in the area where the arch transitions to the descending region. Pathology is observed several times less often in the ascending and abdominal sections.

Laryngitis in children is an inflammatory process of the larynx, in which swelling occurs almost immediately. Laryngitis is most dangerous for newborn babies and for children under three years of age, because the course of the disease is accompanied by insufficient air entering the respiratory system. This can cause suffocation if parents do not ensure prompt hospitalization.

Left-sided pneumonia is the rarest form of development of an infectious process in the lungs of the two existing varieties. Despite this, the disease poses a great threat to the patient's life. The main cause of the development of the disease is the pathological influence of pathogenic microorganisms, which penetrate into the left lung extremely rarely and often with a severe weakening of the immune system. In addition, doctors identify a large number of predisposing factors.

False croup is a pathology of an infectious-allergic nature, causing the development of laryngeal edema with subsequent stenosis. Narrowing of the airways, including the larynx, leads to insufficient air supply to the lungs and poses a threat to the patient’s life, so help in this condition should be provided immediately - within minutes after the attack.

Metabolic acidosis is a pathological condition characterized by an imbalance in the acid-base balance in the blood. The disease develops against the background of poor oxidation of organic acids or their insufficient removal from the human body.

Methemoglobinemia is a disease in which there is an increase in the level of methemoglobin or oxidized hemoglobin in the main biological fluid of a person. In such cases, the degree of concentration increases above the norm - 1%. The pathology is congenital and acquired.

Myocarditis is the general name for inflammatory processes in the heart muscle, or myocardium. The disease can appear against the background of various infections and autoimmune lesions, exposure to toxins or allergens. A distinction is made between primary myocardial inflammation, which develops as an independent disease, and secondary, when cardiac pathology is one of the main manifestations of a systemic disease. With timely diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of myocarditis and its causes, the prognosis for recovery is the most successful.

Neurocirculatory dystonia, or cardiac neurosis, is a disorder in the functioning of the cardiovascular system, which is associated with a violation of physiological neuroendocrine regulation. Most often it manifests itself in women and adolescents due to the influence of severe stress or heavy physical exertion. It appears much less frequently in people under fifteen and over forty years of age.

Dehydration is a process that occurs due to a large loss of fluid by the body, the volume of which is several times greater than the volume that a person consumes. As a result, the normal functioning of the body is disrupted. It often presents with fever, vomiting, diarrhea and increased sweating. It occurs most often in the hot season or when performing heavy physical activity without taking too much fluid. Every person is susceptible to this disorder, regardless of gender and age, but according to statistics, children, people in the elderly age group, and people suffering from the chronic course of a particular disease are most often predisposed.

Obstructive bronchitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the bronchi and is complicated by obstruction. This pathological process is accompanied by severe swelling of the respiratory tract, as well as a deterioration in the ventilation capacity of the lungs. Obstruction develops more rarely; doctors diagnose non-obstructive bronchitis several times more often.

Obstructive bronchitis in children is an inflammatory process in the bronchial tree, which occurs with symptoms of obstruction. Leads to a narrowing of the lumen of the bronchi, which causes a disruption in the passage of air through them. It occurs in children from one to six years of age, and is the most common childhood disease (of all that affects the respiratory system). In some cases, inflammation may recur several times. Those children who attend kindergarten are the most susceptible to illness.

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With the help of exercise and abstinence, most people can do without medicine.

Symptoms and treatment of human diseases

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In medicine, this symptom is called “tachypnea.” It is used in their work by doctors of various profiles: therapists, pulmonologists, cardiologists and others.

Normally, the frequency of respiratory movements in a healthy person during wakefulness should not exceed 15-20 per minute, in a child - no more than 40-45 per minute. During sleep, a decrease in these indicators is permissible, since the activity of the nervous system is suppressed. And under heavy load (heavy physical work, intense sports training), the breathing rate can reach 60-70 per minute.

Other symptoms that accompany rapid breathing

If we are talking about various diseases, then, as a rule, the patient has one or more of the following symptoms:

deterioration of general health, attacks of severe weakness and malaise;
constant or periodic dizziness, as well as fainting;
the appearance of dark circles before the eyes or “spots”, sudden darkening in the eyes;
inability to take a full breath or exhale, dissatisfaction with the act of breathing;
the appearance of wheezing, which can be heard at a distance, it intensifies when lying down;
chest pain that does not change in intensity with changes in body position;
pathological discharge from the nose, possibly hemoptysis;
swelling of varying severity in the lower extremities;
change in temperature response, increased sweating, dry mouth;
excited or panicky state of the patient, fear of death, inability to adequately assess the situation;
sensitivity in the upper or lower extremities is impaired;
the physiological color of the skin and mucous membranes changes, they become pale or bluish-burgundy.

Physiological causes of rapid breathing

Among the “natural” factors that cause this symptom are the following:

Various types of physical activity or sports. In this case, the breathing rate directly depends on the intensity of these loads and the body’s fitness and can reach 60-70 per minute.
Children of certain age groups have different limits of normal breathing parameters. This is due to the gradual maturation of the respiratory organs and the formation of regulatory mechanisms at the level of the central nervous system. The normal frequency for newborn babies is 50-60 respiratory acts per minute.
During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes enormous hormonal and physiological changes, which directly affect the functionality of the respiratory system. The resting respiratory rate can reach 20-25 per minute.
A stressful or exciting situation activates the autonomic nervous system, which affects the frequency of respiratory movements, making them faster.
People who are overweight or obese to varying degrees breathe more frequently than their peers of normal weight.
Being in mountainous areas leads to increased breathing, as a compensatory mechanism to protect the body from low oxygen levels in the surrounding air.

Pathological causes of rapid breathing

The range of diseases that can be accompanied by this symptom is quite wide, among them it is worth highlighting the most common:

Diseases of the bronchopulmonary system (acute or chronic bronchitis, attack of bronchial asthma, pneumothorax, exudative or dry pleurisy, pneumonia and others).
Diseases of the heart and pleura (coronary heart disease, heart attack, pericarditis and others).
Diseases of the endocrine organs (thyroid or adrenal glands).
Acute infectious processes of any localization, accompanied by febrile syndrome (pyelonephritis, mediastinitis and others).
Thromboembolism of branches of the pulmonary artery of different calibers.
Overdose of medications, drugs or alcohol.
Anemia of various nature.
Mental disorders, panic attacks, attacks of hysteria.
Allergic reaction or anaphylactic shock.

Diagnostics

The algorithm for diagnostic measures is extremely diverse, because patients with rapid breathing are encountered in the practice of doctors of completely different specialties.

An objective examination of such patients, as a rule, reveals a number of symptoms that indicate a particular disease.

Laboratory and instrumental examination includes the following procedures:

blood and urine tests;
biochemical blood test;
chest x-ray;
according to indications, they carry out: Echo-CG, SCT of the chest or abdominal cavity, ultrasound of the thyroid gland, bronchoscopy and others.

Treatment

The tactics of patient management in each specific case has its own characteristics and is determined by the root cause of the process. It is necessary to understand that it is the disease that needs to be treated, not the pathological symptom.

Inflammatory diseases of the bronchopulmonary system can be treated with antibacterial agents in combination with symptomatic drugs.

Endocrine pathology is corrected by prescribing appropriate hormonal drugs, and allergic processes can be treated with antihistamines.

At home, you can cope with rapid breathing that occurs against the background of psycho-emotional stress in the following ways:

take the most comfortable position, while it is best to get rid of clothes that are constricting and interfere with breathing, and take off your shoes;
if possible, drink hot tea with soothing herbs or herbal tincture consisting of motherwort and valerian;
You can breathe into a paper bag for several minutes to eliminate symptoms of hyperventilation and normalize the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.

Prevention

The basis of prevention is the timely fight against all chronic diseases and infectious processes in the body.

It is necessary to strengthen the immune system, play sports and lead a healthy lifestyle, take courses of vitamins and restorative medications. Overweight people should adjust their weight.

Shaykhnurova Lyubov Anatolyevna

What does rapid breathing during sleep mean?

Causes of rapid breathing while awake