Bradypnea is a slow breathing rate of less than 12 breaths per minute, which can be a sign of an underlying medical problem. Sedation, brain tumors, and metabolic disorders can cause it. Treatment involves addressing the underlying cause and may include supplemental oxygen or surgery.
Bradypnea is an abnormally slow breathing rate, defined as less than 12 breaths per minute for people between the ages of 12 and 50. Respiratory rate varies for older adults and younger children. When a patient has bradypnea, it suggests that the patient may not be getting enough oxygen and may be a sign of an underlying medical problem that needs to be addressed. A variety of healthcare professionals 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 sleeping. Bradypnea is normal when people are asleep, as the body as a whole slows down. However, in someone who is awake, a slowed breathing rate is usually a sign of a problem unless the person is doing breathing exercises which can involve the slowing and deepening of breaths.
A common cause of bradypnea is sedation. Sedative drugs can lower the respiratory rate, as can substances such as alcohol, which can have a depressant effect on the respiratory system. People who abuse opiates and opiates can also develop bradypnea. Another cause is a brain tumor or elevated intercranial pressure that affects areas of the brain involved in regulating breathing. Some metabolic disorders may also be involved in bradypnea.
Patients may also develop respiratory decompensation, in which 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 out, and can also occur in people with chronic lung conditions and conditions involving the nervous system. Another cause of bradypnea is kidney failure. All of these causes can be dangerous, not only because they limit the oxygen supply by slowing down breathing, but also because they can endanger other organ systems in the body.
Immediate treatment for bradynia may involve giving the patient supplemental oxygen. In the long run, a healthcare professional needs to find out what’s causing the slow breathing and address it. Treatments can include everything from surgery to address dangerously high intercranial pressure to staying in a rehabilitation 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, health care professionals may be advised to monitor the patient closely for signs of slowed and labored breathing.
Other problems with breathing rate can include tachypnea, breathing too fast, and apnea, not breathing at all.
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