The body's metabolism slows down when you sleep. Therefore, both your heart rate and breathing rate are slower than when you are awake. Not only that, your blood pressure also decreases, your muscles relax and begin the recovery process, according to the health website Healthline (USA).
Abnormal breathing while sleeping is a warning sign of lung problems
With breathing, your breathing should slow down and stay steady throughout the night. Breathing faster or slower than normal is not good. For example, the average person's breathing rate is 15 breaths per minute, increasing to 19 breaths per minute is a sign of an underlying health problem.
The American Sleep Foundation says adults can breathe 12-20 times per minute. Breathing up to 28 times per minute is still considered safe. Some devices, such as smart watches, can actually track your breathing while you sleep.
Abnormally fast or slow breathing can be a sign that your body is fighting a cold, infection, or the side effects of medication. In extreme cases, irregular breathing can also be a sign of a serious health problem.
It could be a sign of anxiety, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung infection, blood clot or heart failure. In particular, patients should see a doctor if their breathing is abnormal, accompanied by symptoms such as difficulty breathing, fever, chest tightness, pale or gray skin.
For people with abnormally rapid breathing during sleep, doctors may treat it by using a breathing mask or a tube inserted into the nose to provide adequate oxygen. Another way is to practice breathing by using more of the diaphragm, the dome-shaped muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. Using the diaphragm helps you breathe more deeply and more slowly.
In cases of respiratory failure, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine may be used. This device can help move oxygen-rich air into and out of the lungs more efficiently.
In addition, depending on the physical or psychological cause, doctors may use inhalers, antihistamines or cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce anxiety in people with psychological problems, according to Healthline .
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