Tachypnea

Medicine refers to an increased need for oxygen in humans as Tachypnea. The reasons and causes why tachypnea occurs vary. Acute tachypnea, if diagnosed and treated too late, can result in complications and long-term consequences.

What is tachypnea?

Before the doctor begins treatment and therapy, he must be aware of the cause of the tachypnea. However, it is important that the oxygen is administered immediately.

Tachypnea is the desire for more oxygen. An increased respiratory rate of the patient is characteristic. Experts speak of acute tachypnea when the patient takes more than 20 breaths per minute. While the frequency is being determined (how many breaths per minute), the patient must not engage in any strenuous activity.

It is important that the doctor clarifies the cause of the tachypnea in order to avoid any complications or long-term effects. Clarifying the cause is also essential for the further course of treatment.

causes

Several different factors are responsible for tachypnea. The patient's effort is essential. An increased respiratory rate mainly occurs when the body is exposed to high levels of stress. But not just a great deal of effort is the reason; The psyche can also trigger tachypnea.

Many people suffer from tachypnea after a traumatic experience. But not only trauma, but also pathological causes cause an increased breathing rate. Spontaneous fever can also trigger tachypnea. For every increasing degree, the breathing rate increases by seven breaths - per minute. That is why it is important that sauna enthusiasts also pay attention to their breathing rate again and again during the sauna visit.

Heart failure (cardiac insufficiency) or very severe blood loss also trigger tachypnea. With both components, the circulatory system suffers from an insufficient blood supply. For this reason, there is an insufficient supply of oxygen and tachypnea develops. Malignant tumors are another cause. However, these only cause tachypnea in very few cases.

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Diseases with this symptom

• SIRS
• Milk protein allergy

• Hypoxia
• Spinal muscular atrophy

• lung infection
• Chronic bronchitis

Diagnosis & course

The patient can only avoid complications and long-term effects if the doctor diagnoses and treats the tachypnea in good time. The doctor can use various diagnostic methods to determine the tachypnea.

First and foremost, the attending physician examines the patient's blood. During the blood test, the doctor determines how high the blood gas values ​​are. Here he can see how high the oxygen or carbon dioxide is in the blood. In addition to a blood test in the laboratory, there is also the option of diagnostic equipment. Here the doctor makes the diagnosis using an electrocardiogram. With the help of the electrocardiogram, it is possible for the doctor to determine any cardiac arrhythmia.

Cardiac arrhythmias occur again and again when the heart is confronted with an undersupply. The undersupply usually occurs when the body gets too little oxygen. The doctor can also take a chest x-ray and rule out or confirm pneumonia - another cause of the tachypnea. If the patient suffers from acute tachypnea, the patient initially complains of internal restlessness and pressure on the chest. The patient also suffers from impaired consciousness and sweating.

Complications

An increased respiratory rate or tachypnea arises, for example, from physical exertion. However, this will subside after a few minutes and will not cause any further complications. Psychogenic tachypnea can lead to increased exhalation of carbon dioxide. As a result, more acids are excreted from the body and the pH of the blood increases.

As a result, calcium binds to proteins in the blood. This can result in cramps, which lead to a typical paw position of the extremities. In addition, due to the lack of CO2 in the blood, the cerebral vessels close up, so that the brain is no longer adequately supplied with blood and this can lead to dizziness and even fainting.

Another cause of the increased respiratory rate is fever as part of an infectious disease. In the worst case, the infection can lead to blood poisoning (sepsis). In this case, the pathogens spread with the bloodstream and spread over the entire person. This can lead to septic shock, as a result of which multiple organs can die and this can be life-threatening for humans.

In addition, heart failure (heart failure) can trigger cardiac arrhythmias. These include atrial fibrillation or ventricular fibrillation. If left untreated, these can quickly lead to cardiac arrest, which ultimately leads to cardiac death.

When should you go to the doctor?

A medical consultation is only advisable if the symptoms appear over the course of one or more days. The increase in respiratory rate is due to an increased need for oxygen. This, in turn, is the result of another underlying disease that should be professionally diagnosed and treated.

Even if seemingly simple colds lead to long-term tachypnea, it is advisable to consult a doctor. This controls the course and any deterioration in health. As soon as the acute illness is overcome, the breathing rate usually returns to normal. If this does not happen, a further consultation is necessary. Short-term tachypnoeic conditions are usually harmless. In particular, if the increased respiratory rate is due to stress, other environmental influences or psychogenic causes, a doctor's visit is not necessary. The transition to stress-related hyperventilation is sometimes fluid and should be observed.

If the tachypnea occurs more often in connection with psychological stress, a visit to a psychiatrist or psychologist can serve to clarify whether there is a deeper impairment, for example in coping with stress or in the form of an anxiety disorder. The frequent combination with other symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, cold sweating, palpitations or high blood pressure should be presented to a doctor.

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Treatment & Therapy

Before the doctor begins treatment and therapy, he must be aware of the cause of the tachypnea. However, it is important that the oxygen is administered immediately. If the acute tachypnea is already at an advanced stage, surgical treatment is often the only way to help the patient.

If there is an underlying disease that triggers the tachypnea, the doctor treats the cause and not the symptom. This means that the patient is prescribed analgesics. By giving analgesics, it is possible that the patient's pain will be relieved. This also alleviates the patient's fears and inner unrest.

The analgesics also affect the patient's respiratory center, among other things.Another treatment option is with the preparation cortisone. With the development of the preparation in the patient's bronchi, any inflammation can be cured relatively quickly.

Outlook & forecast

With tachypnea, the prospect of recovery is generally positive. If the cause of the increased respiratory rate is treated comprehensively, a normal respiratory tone will return after a while. The tachypnea itself can be treated with breathing exercises and medication and then usually resolves over the course of a few days or weeks.

The prognosis is worsened by possible complications, such as those that can occur as a result of chronic oxygen deficiency or hyperventilation. Disturbances in consciousness and sweating are typical. In addition, there is seldom strong inner restlessness and the development of anxiety disorders.

If the tachypnea is caused by a heart or lung disease, this must first be treated. The outlook is based on how well the treatment measures work and how pronounced the tachypnea is. A very high respiratory rate can make surgical interventions and other therapeutic measures more difficult and thus reduce the prospect of a full recovery.

A permanent under or over-supply of oxygen can also lead to cardiac arrhythmias and, as a result, to a heart attack. Rapid and comprehensive treatment is therefore essential for a positive prognosis.

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prevention

Home remedies ↵ for shortness of breath There is no direct prevention against acute tachypnea. It is important that any diseases and causes that favor acute tachypnea are kept in mind. If the attending physician diagnoses asthma, it is advisable that the patient follow the prescribed therapy. This means that he takes his medication regularly to avoid tachypnea.

Even with a cold or flu, it is important that the patient takes antipyretic medication. In this way, the patient acts preventively against acute tachypnea. Since acute tachypnea occurs again and again after high exertion and exertion, periods of rest and breaks after high exertion are essential.

You can do that yourself

There is really no direct prevention against acute tachypnea. Prevention focuses more on the underlying causes. If the doctor diagnoses asthma, the patient should follow the prescribed therapy. To avoid tachypnea, prescribed medications should be taken regularly.

If the tachypnea occurs as part of a cold, fever-lowering measures should be taken to prevent shortness of breath. In addition to any prescribed medication, the person affected has the option of using numerous home remedies. This includes, for example, leg or calf wraps, vinegar stockings, but also drinking hot teas, which promote sweat production and thus stimulate the immune system.

Because acute tachypnea usually occurs in the context of physical exertion or high exertion, breaks or sufficient relaxation phases after high exertion are elementary in order to avoid the occurrence of symptoms. In general, a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise is recommended in order to avoid diseases that promote tachypnea.

If the symptoms arise in connection with psychological stress, relaxation exercises are recommended for those affected in order to lower the breathing rate again. Changing the environment to a relaxed atmosphere can also help.