Normal Breathing Rate and Ideal Breathing
Medical textbooks suggest that normal breathing rate is only 12 breaths per minute. Older textbooks often provide even smaller values (e.g., 8-10 breaths per minute). Most modern people breathe much faster (about 15-20 breaths per minute) than the normal breathing rate. Breathing rate in the sick is even higher. When we breathe more than the medical norm, we lose CO2 and reduce body oxygenation due to vasoconstriction and the suppressed Bohr effect. Indeed, here is a proof that Breath holding time or cell oxygenation in the sick (Table with 10 medical research articles results) is low. Overbreathing means reduced cell oxygenation. The slower and less you breathe, the more cell oxygen you get.
Important note. You
cannot define your own breathing frequency by simply counting it. As
soon as you try it, your breathing will be more deep and slow. You can
ask other people to count it, when you are unaware about your
breathing, or you can record your breathing using sensitive microphones
fixed near your nose at night or when you sit quietly and busy with
some other activities. It is also possible to define own breathing
frequency by asking other people to count the number of your breathing
cycles during one minute when you are sleeping. (During sleep the
respiratory frequency remains about the same as during wakeful states
at rest, but the tidal volume or amplitude of breathing is reduced.)
Normal breathing rates in newborn, toddlers, infants, and children
(the source is provided in references)
| Groups and ages | Normal breathing rates |
| Newborns to 6 months old | 30-60 breaths/min |
| 6 to 12 months old | 24–30 breaths/min |
| 1 to 5 years old | 20–30 breaths/min |
| 6 to 12 years | 12–20 breaths/min |
More about breathing rates and body oxygenation
From physiological viewpoint, the CP (body oxygenation index or stress-free breath holding time after your usual exhalation) is the more meaningful and important DIY test, than one's breathing frequency. If you have less than 20 s of oxygen in the morning (when you wake up), you are likely to have serious health problems.
Ideal breathing frequency is about 3 breaths per minute (see Buteyko Table of Health Zones) provides optimum blood oxygen levels and maximum cell oxygen content. This relates to one's basal breathing or unconscious breathing pattern at rest (e.g., during sleep, when reading, writing, etc.)
Relevant web pages: Breathing patterns and body oxygenation:
Normal
breathing pattern (in healthy people) What is the type of
breathing pattern of healthy people?
Ineffective breath pattern (in the sick) What is the
respiratory pattern in mildly sick people?
Breath Pattern in the
severely sick Breathing pattern type in severely sick people
Ideal breathing
pattern Is there an "ideal breathing" pattern for super
health?
Types of breathing patterns
Summary (List of 4 types of regular respiratory breathing patterns and
body oxygenation)
Additional references
Normal breathing rates for children (from Healthwise - health.msn.com) http://health.msn.com/health-topics/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100061122