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Hypopnea is overly shallow breathing or an abnormally low respiratory rate. Hypopnea is typically defined by a decreased amount of air movement into the lungs and can cause hypoxemia (low levels of oxygen in the blood.) It commonly is due to partial obstruction of the upper airway, but can also have neurological origins in central sleep apnea.
Medications, such as drugs for other heart rhythm disorders as well as high blood pressure and narcotic pain medications may also decrease respiratory rate; Dysautonomia (dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system)
Hyperpnea – fast and deep breathing; Hyperventilation – increased breathing that causes CO 2 loss; Hypopnea – slow and shallow breathing; Hypoventilation – decreased breathing that causes CO 2 gain; Labored breathing – physical presentation of respiratory distress; Tachypnea – increased breathing rate
The respiratory rate in humans is measured by counting the number of breaths for one minute through counting how many times the chest rises. A fibre-optic breath rate sensor can be used for monitoring patients during a magnetic resonance imaging scan. [1] Respiration rates may increase with fever, illness, or other medical conditions. [2]
Average respiratory rates vary between ages, but the normal reference range for people age 18 to 65 is 16–20 breaths per minute. [4] The value of respiratory rate as an indicator of potential respiratory dysfunction has been investigated but findings suggest it is of limited value.
By definition it causes an increased concentration of carbon dioxide (hypercapnia) and respiratory acidosis. Hypoventilation is not synonymous with respiratory arrest, in which breathing ceases entirely and death occurs within minutes due to hypoxia and leads rapidly into complete anoxia, although both are medical emergencies. Hypoventilation ...
Because the brain stem regulates breathing by monitoring the level of blood CO 2 instead of O 2, hypocapnia can suppress breathing to the point of blackout from cerebral hypoxia, as exhibited in shallow water blackout. Hypocapnia also results in bronchoconstriction [3] in order to decrease ventilation. This mechanism is meant to counteract ...
If the level is below 90 percent, it is considered low and called hypoxemia. [2] Arterial blood oxygen levels below 80 percent may compromise organ function, such as the brain and heart, and should be promptly addressed. Continued low oxygen levels may lead to respiratory or cardiac arrest.