Bradypnea is an abnormally slow breathing rate, defined as less than 12 breaths per minute for people between the ages of 12 and 50. Breathing rates vary for older adults and younger children. When a patient has bradypnea, it suggests that the patient is not getting enough oxygen and may be a sign of an underlying medical problem that needs to be addressed. A variety of care providers may be involved in the diagnostic process to determine why a patient is breathing more slowly than usual.
One reason a patient breathes slowly is because they are asleep. Bradypnea is normal when people sleep, as the body generally slows down. However, in someone who is awake, a slow breathing rate is often a sign of a problem, unless the person is doing breathing exercises that may involve slowing and deepening breaths.
A common cause of bradypnea is sedation. Sedative drugs can reduce the respiratory rate, as can substances such as alcohol, which can have a depressing effect on the respiratory system. People who abuse opiates and opiates can also develop bradypnea. Another cause is a brain tumor or high intracranial pressure that affects areas of the brain involved in regulating breathing. Certain metabolic disorders may also be involved in bradypnea.
Patients can also develop respiratory decompensation, where the respiratory system is damaged or compromised and doesn't work as effectively as it should. This is common in older adults as their bodies wear down, and can also occur in people with chronic lung conditions and conditions that affect the nervous system. Another cause of bradypnea is kidney failure. All of these causes can be dangerous, not only because they limit oxygen supplies by slowing breathing, but also because they can compromise other organ systems in the body.
Immediate treatment for bradnea may involve giving a patient supplemental oxygen. In the long term, a health care provider needs to find out what is causing slow breathing and address it. Treatments can include everything from surgery to treat dangerously high intracranial pressure to a stay in a rehab program for a patient with an addiction problem. If a patient has a condition that increases the risk of bradypnea, such as kidney failure or a brain tumor, care providers may be advised to carefully monitor the patient for signs of slow, labored breathing.
Other problems with your breathing rate can include tachypnea, where you breathe too fast, and apnea, where you don't breathe at all.