Normal Respiratory Frequency and Ideal Breathing

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- Updated on September 10, 2020

Normal Respiratory Frequency and Ideal Breathing 1By Dr. Artour Rakhimov, Alternative Health Educator and Author


- Medically Reviewed by Naziliya Rakhimova, MD

Definition. Respiratory rate (also known as ventilation rate, respiration rate, breathing rate, pulmonary ventilation rate, breathing frequency, and respiratory frequency or Rf) = the number of breaths a person takes during one minute. It is usually measured at rest while sitting.

Medical research suggests that respiration rate is the marker of pulmonary dysfunction. Patients breathe more often at rest in advance of a large number of chronic health conditions. This website has scientific references related to increased respiratory rates for adults with cancer patients, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, asthma, diabetes, COPD and many other conditions.

What is the normal respiratory Rate?

Normal respiratory rate graph Medical textbooks suggest that the normal respiratory rate for adults is only 12 breaths per minute at rest. Older textbooks often provide even smaller values (e.g., 8-10 breaths per minute). Most modern adults breathe much faster (about 15-20 breaths per minute) than their normal breathing frequency.

The respiratory rates in the sick persons are usually higher, generally about 20 breaths/min or more. This site quotes numerous studies that testify that respiratory rates in terminally sick people with cancer, HIV-AIDS, cystic fibrosis and other conditions is usually over 30 breaths/min.

Warning sign Important note. You cannot define your own breathing rate 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 are busy with some other activities.

It is also possible to define your breathing frequency by asking other people to count the number of your breathing cycles for 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.)

What are the effects of increased respiratory rates?

When we breathe more than the medical norm, we lose CO2 and reduce body oxygenation due to vasoconstriction and the suppressed Bohr effect caused by hypocapnia (CO2 deficiency). Hence, overbreathing leads to reduced cell oxygenation, while slower and easier breathing (with lower respiratory rates) improves cell-oxygen content.

Normal pediatric respiratory rate for infants, newborn, toddlers, and children

(the source for this pediatric table is provided in references)
Groups of children Their ages Normal respiration rates
Newborns and infants Up to 6 months old 30-60 breaths/min
Infants 6 to 12 months old 24-30 breaths/min
Toddlers and children 1 to 5 years old 20-30 breaths/min
Children 6 to 12 years 12-20 breaths/min

More about respiratory frequency and body oxygenation

From a physiological viewpoint, the body-oxygen test is a 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 health problems.

Ideal Respiration Rate

The ideal respiration frequency at rest for maximum possible brain- and body-oxygen levels corresponds to the automatic or unconscious breathing with only X breaths/min (find out this exact number X in the bonus content).

Ideal breathing pattern with the respiratory rate of 3/min

…about 3-4 breaths per minute (see Buteyko Table of Health Zones for details). Bear in mind that this relates to one’s basal breathing or unconscious breathing pattern at rest (e.g., during sleep, when reading, writing, etc.) The practical test for the ideal breathing pattern is to measure one’s body oxygen level (see the link below).

The person with ideal breathing has about 3 min for the body-oxygen test (after exhalation and without any forcing oneself). This corresponds to the maximum breath holding time of about 8 or more minutes (if breath holding is done after the maximum inhalation and for as long as possible).

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Resources and further info:
Mouth Breathing in Children, Babies, Toddlers, and Infants: Its causes, effects, treatment, and prevention: This web page will help you to naturally slow down the breathing of your children
Ideal breathing pattern
– Normal respiration rates for children (from Healthwise – health.msn.com)

– This page in Spanish: Frecuencia respiratoria normal y respiración ideal.

Pinch your congested nose and walk fast with your blocked nose pinched and your mouth closed the whole time. You probably will be able to make around 20-30 steps. While walking, stay relaxed and hold your breath until you have a strong urge to breathe. Then sit down with your spine totally straight and focus on your breath. After you release your nose, start reduced breathing or breathing less air, without taking deep breaths, and keep the mouth closed. Here are details for this great home remedy.

Instead of taking a big inhalation, take a smaller inhale and then relax all muscles for exhalation, especially the upper chest, diaphragm, and other respiratory muscles. Take another small inhalation and again relax. With each inhalation, keep practicing this reduced or shallow breathing while remaining relaxed.

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