A respiratory rate, or breathing rate, is the number of breaths that a person takes in a minute while at rest. The respiratory rate can be measured by counting the number of times a person’s chest rises and falls within a minute. An individual’s normal respiratory rate will change based on his or her age. Additionally, an abnormally high or low respiratory rate may indicate certain medical conditions.

The normal respiratory rate for adults and children, who are over the age of 12, ranges from 14 to 18 breaths per minute. As people age, their breathing slows and conversely, younger adults, children and babies will have faster respiratory rates. The normal respiratory rate for babies from birth to 6 months is 30 to 60 breaths per minute. When a baby reaches the age of 6 months, her breathing slows to 24 to 30 breaths per minute and the normal respiratory rate for children from the age of 1 to 5 years old is 20 to 30 breaths per minute. Children who are from 6 to 12 years old should have a normal respiratory rate that ranges from 12 to 20 breaths per minute.

Abnormally slow breathing, called bradypnea, may be the symptom of a metabolic disorder or a tumor. Bradypnea also occurs during sleep, but can be induced through the use of opiate narcotics. Apnea, when a person’s breathing completely stops, can be caused by numerous things in adults and children. Usual causes of apnea in children are choking, asthma, bronchiolitis, encephalitis, gastro-esophageal reflux, meningitis, pneumonia, seizures or premature birth. Adults may experience apnea because of cardiac arrest, asthma, choking, drug overdose or obstructive sleep apnea.

Other causes of apnea that are not as common are head injuries, arrhythmias, metabolic disorders, near-drowning incidents, strokes and other neurological disorders. The opposite of apnea is tachypnea, which is rapid breathing. A faster than normal respiratory rate may be caused by the flu or a cold in children. Pneumonia and asthma may also cause an increase in the rate of respiration. In adults, tachypnea is usually caused by asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chest pain, lung infections like pneumonia and a pulmonary embolism.

A faster than normal respiration rate may also be induced by regular physical exercise. If a person begins taking rapid deep breaths that are caused by panic or anxiety it is called hyperventilation. The terms tachypnea and hyperventilation are used interchangeably although hyperventilation is characterized by deeper breathing.