US Medical Term · emergency
Respiratory Rate
Frecuencia respiratoria
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Respiratory Rate |
| Spanish (Español) | Frecuencia respiratoria |
| Chinese (中文) | 呼吸頻率 |
| Korean (한국어) | 호흡수 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Tần số hô hấp |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Bilis ng paghinga |
| Portuguese (Português) | Frequência respiratória |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | อัตราการหายใจ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 呼吸数 |
What it means
Respiratory rate is the number of breaths a person takes per minute. In hospitals, nurses count breaths by watching the chest rise, or monitoring equipment measures it automatically. Normal adult respiratory rate is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. A rate below 12 (bradypnea) may indicate drug overdose or neurological problems. A rate above 20 (tachypnea) can signal infections, asthma, anxiety, or heart problems. A very high or very low respiratory rate is considered an emergency and may lead to oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation. Changes in your breathing rate are important indicators of your overall health status.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
The nurse is watching my breathing rate.
La enfermera está monitoreando mi frecuencia respiratoria.
Is my respiratory rate normal right now?
¿Mi frecuencia respiratoria es normal ahora mismo?
He has a high respiratory rate and is having trouble breathing.
Tiene una frecuencia respiratoria alta y tiene dificultad para respirar.
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Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026