FACTORS AFFECTING CHARACTER OF RESPIRATION
Exercise
Exercise increases the rate and depth of respiration to
meet the body's need for additional oxygen and to rid the body of carbon
dioxide.
Acute pain
Pain alters rate and rhythm of respiration, breathing
becomes shallow Patient inhibit or splints chest wall movement when pain is in
area of chest or abdomen
Anxiety
Anxiety increases rate and depth of respiration as a
result of sympathetic stimulation.
Smoking
Chronic smoking changes the pulmonary airway, resulting
in increased rate of respiration at rest when not smoking.
Body position
•
A straight, erect position promotes full chest
expansion
•
A stooped or slumped position impairs
ventilatory movement.
•
Lying flat prevents full chest expansion.
Medications
• Opioid analgesics, general anesthesia, sedative
hypnoticsdepress the rate and depth.
•
Cocaine may increase rate and depth.
•
Bronchodilators slow rate by causing airway
dilation.
Neurological
injury
Injury to the brain stem impairs the respiratory center
and inhibits respiratory rate and depth.
Hemoglobin
function
• Decreased hemoglobin levels (anemia) reduce
oxygen carrying capacity of the blood which increases respiratory rate.
• Increased altitude lowers the saturated
hemoglobin, which increases respiratory rate and depth.
• Abnormal blood cell function (e.g. sickle cell
disease) reduces ability of hemoglobin to carry oxygen which increases
respiratory rate and depth
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