RESPIRATION

Respiration -

Respiration is the process that brings oxygen into the body and removes carbon dioxide  waste. the exchange occur in the lungs.

Types of Respiration

  • External respiration- External respiration describes the exchange of gasses between the external environment and the bloodstream.
  • Internal respiration- Internal respiration is the processes by which gases in the air that has already been drawn into the lungs by external respiration are exchanged with gases in the blood (that has returned to the lungs after passing through tissues around the body) so that carbon dioxide (CO 2) is removed from the blood and replaced with oxygen (O 2).

Characteristics of Respiration

Normal breathing is regular, effortless, even and produces no noise. Characteristics of respiration are as follows-

  • Rate- Rate is the number of full respirations in a minute. Normal respiratory rate in an adult is 12-20 breaths/min. As the age increases, the respiratory rate decreases.
  • Depth- It can be described as normal, deep or shallow. Deep inspirations are those in which large volume of air is inhaled and exhaled, inflating a major part of the lungs. Shallow respiration involves the exchange of small volume of air and often the minimal use of lung tissue. In normal respiration, an adult inhales about 500 mL of air.
  • Rhythm- It is the regularity of expiration and inspiration. In normal respiration, the rhythm is regular.

Factors Affecting Respiration

  • Age- As the age increases, the respiratory rate decreases. The normal respiratory rate in an adult ranges between 12 and 20 breaths/min. In infants, the respiratory rate is faster.
  • Gender- Females shave more rapid respiration than males. In males, respiratory movements are primarily diaphragmatic, whereas in women there is greater use of intercostal muscles.
  • Rest and sleep- During rest and sleep metabolism is decreased so respiration rate is normal or decreased

  • Exercise- Exercise increases the rate and depth of respiration to meet the body's need of additional oxygen and to expel carbon dioxide.

  • Emotions- Fear, anxiety and other related emotions increase the respiration rate and depth.

  • Change in atmospheric pressure- At high altitudes, there is insufficient oxygen. Therefore, respiration increases to improve oxygen supply to the tissues.

  • Medications- Medications may increase or decrease respiration depending upon the action of drug. For example, respiratory depressants such as morphine decreases respiration, whereas amphetamine and cocaine are respiratory stimulants that increase respiration.

  • Disease conditions- The respiratory rate and depth may increase or decrease depending upon the type of disease condition. For example, anemia may result in an increased rate of respiration, whereas paralysis of respiratory muscles decreases respiration.

  • Pain- Pain alters rate and rhythm of respiration. Severe pain increases respiratory rate.

  • Smoking- Chronic smoking causes changes in the lungs resulting in an increased rate of respiration even at rest.

  • Fever- Fever increases respiratory rate.

  • Hemorrhage- Blood loss will cause an increase in respiratory rate to allow supply of oxygen to the damaged tissues.

  • Dehydration- Dehydration affects the exchange of vital gases in the lungs causing an increase in respiration.

  • Hemoglonin Function- Decreased hemoglobin  levels reduce oxygen. Carrying capacity of the blood. leads to increase respiratory rate.

Alterations in Respiration

  • Apnea- It refers to the absence of respiration or cessation of respiration for several seconds.
  • Asphyxia- It is a state of suffocation due to insufficient supply of oxygen in the body.
  • Dyspnea- It refers to difficulty in breathing characterized by an increased effort to inhale and exhale.
  • Bradypnea- It refers to decreased respiratory rate less than 10 breaths/min.
  • Tachypnea- It refers to respiratory rate greater than normal.
  • Wheeze- It is continuous high-pitched musical whistling sound that occurs due to the narrowing of partial obstruction of airways.
  • Stridor- It is a harsh, shrill sound heard during inspiration with laryngeal obstruction.
  • Orthopnea- In this, client can breathe only in upright position.
  • Hyperventilation- Rate and depth of respiration increase.
  • Hypoventilation- Rate and depth of respiration decrease and there is decreased intake of O2 and exhalation  of CO2.
  • Cheyne-Stokes respiration- Cheyne–Stokes respiration is an abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by progressively deeper, and sometimes faster, breathing followed by a gradual decrease that results in a temporary stop in breathing called an apnea.
  • Kussmaul's breathing- It is characterized by deep and rapid breathing pattern. It is commonly caused by diabetic ketoacidosis.(Kussmaul breathing is a deep and labored breathing pattern often associated with severe metabolic acidosis, particularly diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) but also kidney failure.)
  • Biot's respiration- It is an abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by regular deep inspirations followed by regular or irregular periods of apnea.(Biot's breathing or ataxic breathing, is an abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by variable tidal volume, random apneas, and no regularity.)
  • Cyanosis- Blueness or discolouration of the skin.

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