What is the average rate of lowering per minute

Your respiratory rate, often referred to as your breathing rate, is the number of breaths you take per minute. For most healthy adults, average breaths per minute typically range from 12 to 20 while in a state of rest. Each breath, or respiration, has two phases, inhalation and exhalation. Oxygen is brought into your lungs during inhalation, and transported throughout your body in the bloodstream.

Carbon dioxide is then eliminated and dispersed from your lungs during exhalation. The number you see displayed in the app is your average number of RPM over the course of the night while you are sleeping. As you can see above, the majority of WHOOP members have an average respiratory rate that falls somewhere between 13 and 18 breaths per minute.

WHOOP has actually tracked respiratory rate during sleep for a long time. We use minute-by-minute alterations in respiratory rate in our sleep staging algorithm because respiratory rate predictably changes slightly during different sleep stages.

However, in an effort to always improve the analysis and recommendations we provide, we discovered something interesting: While it is true that respiratory rate for adults is generally an indicator of cardiovascular fitness and load and therefore increases when RHR increases and decreases when RHR decreases, it is also a remarkably stable metric.

From night to night, you should not expect to see much change in your respiratory rate statistic. The Sleep Foundation editorial team is dedicated to providing content that meets the highest standards for accuracy and objectivity.

Our editors and medical experts rigorously evaluate every article and guide to ensure the information is factual, up-to-date, and free of bias. Updated November 3, Written by Austin Meadows.

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Abhinav Singh. How Is Respiratory Rate Measured? What Does Respiratory Rate Measure? Adults The normal respiratory rate of an adult at rest is 12 to 20 times per minute. Adults Over 60 Our respiratory rate at rest changes as we grow older. Children Children breathe faster than adults, and their average respiratory rate at rest decreases with age.

Newborn to 12 Months: 30 to 60 breaths per minute 1 to 2 Years: 24 to 40 breaths per minute 3 to 5 Years: 22 to 34 breaths per minute 6 to 12 Years: 18 to 30 breaths per minute 13 to 17 Years: 12 to 20 breaths per minute.

Sign up below for your free gift. Your privacy is important to us. Get tested for sleep apnea from the convenience of your own bedroom! Was this article helpful? Yes No. Gutierrez, G. Respiratory rate variability in sleeping adults without obstructive sleep apnea. Physiological Reports, 4 17 , e Sowho, M. Sleep and respiratory physiology in adults. Clinics in Chest Medicine, 35 3 , — Fang, Y. A novel sleep respiratory rate detection method for obstructive sleep apnea based on characteristic moment waveform.

Journal of Healthcare Engineering, , Normal respiratory rate and peripheral blood oxygen saturation in the elderly population. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 61 12 , — Fleming, S. Normal ranges of heart rate and respiratory rate in children from birth to 18 years of age: A systematic review of observational studies.

Lancet London, England , , — Kelly, D. Apnea and periodic breathing in normal full-term infants during the first twelve months. Pediatric Pulmonology, 1 4 , — Karlen, W. Improving the accuracy and efficiency of respiratory rate measurements in children using mobile devices. PloS One, 9 6 , e Perkins, G. Birmingham assessment of breathing study BABS. Resuscitation, 64 1 , — Massaroni, C. Contact-based methods for measuring respiratory rate.

Sensors Basel, Switzerland , 19 4. Loughlin, P. Respiratory rate: The forgotten vital sign-Make it count! Flenady, T. If respiratory rate is very abnormal, or if a person has signs of infection such as fever, fatigue , or a sore throat , they may benefit from seeing a doctor. People that have lung diseases, such as emphysema , asthma, and chronic bronchitis , may also want to see a doctor if their respiratory rate is abnormal. It can be a sign that their lung disease is worsening.

A normal respiratory rate varies based on age and activity levels. But various conditions including illnesses and injuries can also lead to a breathing rate that is too high or too low. It is important to take an accurate measurement of respiratory rate to determine whether or not it is abnormal. In some instances, an abnormal breathing rate can be an indication of an underlying medical issue, which requires treatment. The most common cause of heavy breathing is physical exertion.

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It can affect both adults and children, but in children…. Paradoxical breathing can be a sign of a serious injury or illness, including hormonal shifts and neurological problems. During paradoxical breathing…. Respiratory depression, or hypoventilation, is when the lungs do not exchange gases properly, causing a low breathing rate. Learn about its causes…. An upper respiratory infection affects the nose and throat and causes symptoms such as sneezing and coughing.

Learn how to identify, treat, and…. What is a normal respiratory rate? Medically reviewed by Gerhard Whitworth, R. Adults Children How to measure Abnormal rates Causes of high rates Causes of low rates When to see a doctor Outlook Respiratory rates change based on many health and activity factors.

Normal respiratory range in adults.