ALTERATIONS IN RESPIRATIONS
1. Breathing Patterns
Rate
Tachypnea/
polypnea - quick, shallow breaths greater than 20 breaths/ min.
Bradypnea
- abnormally slow breathing less than 12 breaths/ min
Apnea
- Cessation of breathing.
Ease or effort
Orthopnea - Ability to breathe only in
upright sitting or standing positions.
Dyspnea - Difficult and labored
breathing during which the individual has a persistent, unsatisfied need for
air and feels distressed.
Volume
Hyperventilation
- Over expansion of lungs characterized by rapid and deep breaths
Hypoventilation
- Under expansion of the lungs, characterized by shallow respiration
Rhythm
Cheyne –
stokes breathing – respiratory rate and depth are irregular, characterized by
alterating periods of apnea
and
hyperventilation.
Kussmaul’s
respiration -Respirations are abnormally deep, regular, and increased in
rate.
Biot's
respiration - Respirations are abnormally shallow for two to three breaths
followed by irregular period of apnea
2.
Breath
sounds
Audible without Amplification
Stridor
: A shrill ,harsh sound heard during inspiration with laryngeal
obstructions.
Stertor
: Snoring or sonorous respiration ,usually due to partial obstruction of
the airway.
Wheeze
: Continuous high pitched musical squek or whistling sound occurring on
expiration and sometimes on inspiration when air moves through a narrowed or
partially obstructed airway..
Bubbling
: Gurgling sounds heard as air passes through moist secretions in the
respiratory tract
Secretions and coughing
Hemoptysis - The presence of blood in
the sputum
Productive cough - A cough accompanied by
expectorated secretions
Non productive
cough - A dry
harsh cough without secretions
Chest movements
Intercostal
retraction - in drawing between the ribs
Substernalretracton
- in drawing beneath the breastbone
Suprasternal
retraction - in drawing above the clavicles
COMMENTS