Respiratory rate which is also known as the breathing rate is actually the number of breaths that a person takes per minute while they are at rest. This rate can be calculated by counting the actual number of times one’s chest rises in a single minute. The normal rates amongst people are not always similar as they tend to change depending on their ages. Abnormally low or high respiratory rates might indicate certain specific medical problems which should be consulted with a physician as soon as possible.

Normal respiratory rate for kids ranging from newborns to 6 month older kids is between 30 and 60 breaths every minute, while after 6 months of age, the rate slows down and become around 24 to 30 breaths every minute. The respiratory rates keep on reducing with the age and thus the adults have quite reduced breathing rates as compared to the children. The normal respiratory rates for the children above the 12 years of age and for the adults, the rates range between 14 and 18 breathes every minute.

Apnea is a condition that is quite commonly observed among the adults. This is the condition in which the breathing of a person stops completely and it might be caused due to a large number of reasons. Some of the common causes of this condition among children include premature birth or seizures, asthma, gastro esophageal reflux, and bronchiolitis. Adults may experience the condition because of choking, asthma, cardiac arrest, and drug overdose. This should be checked with the physician immediately.

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