Several decades ago, my wife's father helping me while I was building our house outside Phoenix, I noted he took at least four breaths to each one of mine. Even when we were taking a "break", sitting still. He was a lifelong smoker, always thin and trim, however, never gained a pound. It suggested to me his lungs must be far less efficient than my own, and that difference troubled me. Asa result, I have now and then observed others' breathing rates while we are "out and about". It surprises me how many folks seem to be breathing much faster than would seem appropriate for their level of activity, which obviously is fairly low, to allow my observations. Most often, those I see thusly, are either very overweight or smoking, or both. So, out of curiosity, while not exerting in any way, take a quick check of your respiration rate. Does it seem to be acceptable? Mine right now is running 11 breaths per minute. Frank
This thread reminds me of Maria, my nanny. She was with us for a long time and only left when she had grandchildren to take care of. And although separated, I have constant communication with her via her daughter. After sometime, I learned that she was diagnosed to have emphysema which the doctor explained as the shrinking of the lungs. And then I remembered that she was always breathing fast even when she was still living with us just like what you have observed with your father in law, @Frank Sanoica. My impression was that Maria was always tired of housework because she was our housemaid then. I think that's a good advice to observe our breathing. At least we can determine if our breathing is normal or not.
@Corie Henson Corie, I thank you for that. And for being so far the only response. I've always thought the idea of respiration rate ought to be a big part of an examining doctor's regimen. No doctors I've dealt with even mentioned it. They DID ask if I smoked, though. Maybe more of our members might come forward with stories about breathing. I would like that! Frank
My mother had shortness of breath. Got it from years of smoking. Had COPD, then Emphysema and then she died this June.
How do you take your respiration rate? Isn't your level of oxygen the most important to watch? My mom was on oxygen in her last few years but she was always checking her oxygen level not how fast she was breathing. If you can't catch your breath after minimal exercise, it's either from a lung issue, CHF or being out of shape. I'm sure there might be other reasons but these are the most common.
Normal respiratory rates for an adult are from eight to sixteen per minute. In twenty years as a paramedic, I have rarely seen rates lower than fourteen, but then I have mostly assessed people who were on their way to the hospital or in the middle of some emergency that prompted the call for an ambulance. Aside from COPD and heart conditions, one thing that happens to us as we grow older is that we become more sedentary and, since we are no longer exerting ourselves, we rarely find the need to take deep breaths. After many years of this, some of our alveoli (tiny air pockets in the lungs) eventually become fused together and no longer capable of inflation. As a consequence, even moderate exertion requires more breaths per minute since the volume of air that we are able to move has diminished. Regular breathing exercises are a good idea. Counting your own respiratory rate is not an adequate assessment, since the very fact that you are counting your breaths affects your rate. In fact, I would never let a patient know when I was assessing his or her respiratory rate because they would then change their breathing pattern. Probably the best way to assess your own breathing is through a pulse oximeter, which measures your oxygen level and rate. They are cheap, and easily obtainable.
That's what I was talking about ...is that the thing you put on your finger? Also gives your heart rate. My oxygen level is usually 98.
I just had my O2 and respiration taken when I went to the doctor this week. It was a respectable 98. My roomie takes his a lot since he has COPD. He likes to walk on the treadmill too, so he is always careful about how much he does. He also likes to take it for times when he has difficulty breathing...he measures his O2 to make sure he is not panicing needlessly. He is very careful monitoring his condition as he needs to be. His heart condition has actually gotten a bit better. His lungs are pretty stable..in a chronically poor state that is..but not worsening.
I have always had trouble with shortness of breath, even when I was young and active. My first husband used to kid me about it, because he was a smoker, and he could hold his breath a lot longer than me, and I would be huffing and puffing just walking along when he was breathing fine. My mother had a tumor in her stomach when she was pregnant with me, plus, she was about 40 years old, and also had a bad heart; so the doctor told her she should not even try to have a baby in her condition. Mom said it was her only chance and asked to continue the pregnancy , and then they would operate when the tumor had to be removed. The doctor told her that I would never be developed enough to live, and she would probably die, too; but she was determined, so that is what she did. When I was born, several months premature, my lungs had not had time enough to develop completely, and this is why I always had trouble getting enough air. Of course, now; I also have the CHF, and other heart issues; so it takes next to nothing to have me out of breath. Even so, my oxygen level is still good, and usually is right up there at 98%, where it should be. Living out here in the high humidity does not help at all, either. Dryer air is just SO much easier to breathe.
My mom had diphtheria as a small child and it left scar tissue on her lungs, she should never have started smoking. She might still be alive.
From about 16-20 years of age. At most, I smoked a half pack a day, though. I smoked only a few cigarettes a day while in high school, and many days not at all.