Oxygen is the boundary condition for human life. Without it, the body can survive for a maximum of a couple of minutes - and this is only if we are talking about a trained swimmer or runner. We receive life-giving air in the process of breathing. For him, nature has created an extremely complex system. And if there are any failures in this process, for example, rapid breathing occurs, you should not ignore the alarm signal.
Something about breathing
The frequency and depth of inhalations and exhalations depends on many factors. First, from age. Children breathe faster than adults. Secondly, on weight. The larger the mass, the more often the cycle repeats. Thirdly, on the state of the body. So, the respiratory rate is affected by rest or activity, pregnancy in women, stress, etc.
The normal rate for adults is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. If there are more, itDefinitely rapid breathing. In medicine, it is referred to as "tachypnea". It provokes the occurrence of a lack of oxygen in the blood with a parallel rise in the content of carbon dioxide in it.
Types of tachypnea
Doctors divide this condition into two groups: physiological, caused by natural causes, and pathological. In the latter case, rapid breathing indicates the course of some disease in the body. Physiological tachypnea can be caused by increased physical activity or stressful situations.
Thus, rapid heartbeat and breathing appear with conflicts, fear or anxiety. No special action is required to end this condition. When the body calms down, the symptoms will disappear by themselves. Pathological tachypnea, especially if it turns into shortness of breath or is accompanied by additional painful signs, requires a medical examination.
Signs of breathing problems
See a doctor if fast breathing occurs at rest and is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Respiratory movements are not only “frequent”, but are also superficial. That is, the inhalation becomes very short and is accompanied by the same short exhalation. The number of cycles in this case can increase to 50-60 per minute. Such breathing is unproductive. It can be dangerous.
- The rhythm of breathing is disturbed. The intervals between cycles are uneven. There may be an interruption in breathing for a while, after which it is restored at a convulsive pace.
With regular tachypnea, if left untreated, hyperventilation can develop. This term refers to the oversaturation of blood with oxygen. It causes weakness, dizziness, "flies" in the eyes, muscle spasms.
Fast breathing: causes
Most often, tachypnea is a side symptom in "everyday", conditionally benign diseases (like influenza or acute respiratory infections). In this case, rapid breathing is accompanied by chills, runny nose, fever, cough. However, tachypnea can also signal more serious illnesses. For example, about heart problems, the development of asthma, bronchial obstruction, tumors, the onset of acidosis in diabetics, pulmonary embolism. Therefore, shortness of breath that does not go away for a long time is a reason for an early visit to the clinic.
Tachypnea in children
Children are a bit different. Newborns sometimes have a so-called transistor tachypnea. More often, this condition occurs in those who were born as a result of a caesarean section or had an umbilical cord wrapping during fetal development. In this case, there is rapid shortness of breath, often with wheezing, and the skin becomes cyanotic due to oxygen deficiency. No treatment is required for this. After a maximum of three days, the child will return to normal, since the traumatic factor has disappeared.
Another thing - kids up to 3-5years. In addition to diseases that are also characteristic of adults, they can begin to breathe partly for "childish" reasons. The main one is the ingestion of small objects into the respiratory system. If tachypnea began suddenly, you should immediately call an ambulance. The second, no less dangerous reason is epiglottitis, that is, inflammation of the epiglottis. Adults get sick very rarely, but in children it occurs quite often. In this case, you need to provide the baby with peace. Before the arrival of doctors, you cannot change the position of his head and try to conduct an independent examination.
