What is the Respiratory Rate?
A person's Respiratory Rate is the number of breaths per minute. Most wearables measure respiratory rate indirectly via the blood flow and during sleep.
👋 Optimal Respiratory Rate
The normal respiration rate for an adult at rest is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. A respiration rate under 12 or over 25 breaths per minute while resting is considered abnormal.
What does a higher respiratory rate mean?
A higher respiratory rate may indicate increased stress due to potential factors such as infection, physical exertion, or emotional stress. This occurs because the sympathetic nervous system is activated when the body is under stress, causing an increased respiratory rate as part of the fight-or-flight response. This helps to deliver more oxygen to the muscles and improve physical performance in the short term. However, prolonged stress can lead to fatigue, exhaustion, and even burnout. Therefore, monitoring respiratory rate and other vital signs is important to identify any signs of stress and take appropriate measures to manage it.
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