Shallow breathing

Shallow breathing

Shallow breathing, thoracic breathing, or chest breathing is the drawing of minimal breath into the lungs, usually by drawing air into the chest area using the intercostal muscles rather than throughout the lungs via the diaphragm. Shallow breathing can result in or be symptomatic of rapid breathing and hyperventilation. Most people who breathe shallowly do it throughout the day and are almost always unaware of the condition.

In upper lobar breathing, clavicular breathing, or clavicle breathing air is drawn predominantly into the chest by the raising of the shoulders and collarbone (clavicles), and simultaneous contracting of the abdomen during inhalation.[1] Maximum amount of air can be drawn this way only for short periods of time, since it requires a lot of effort. When used for prolonged time, this is the most superficial mode of shallow breathing.

Contents

Conditions

Several conditions are marked by, or symptomatic of, shallow breathing. The more common of these symptoms include: various anxiety disorders, asthma, hyperventilation, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, and shock. Anxiety, stress, and panic attacks often accompany shallow breathing.

Shallow breathing, also known medically as hypopnea, may result in hypoventilation, which could cause a build up of carbon dioxide in an individual's body, a symptom known as hypercapnia. It's a condition related to neuro-muscular disorders (NMDs) that include Lou Gehrig's Disease, Muscular Dystrophy, Polio, Post-Polio Syndrome and others. It is a serious condition if not diagnosed properly, or if it's ignored. It is often treated as a "sleep disorder" after a sleep study performed, but "sleep studies cannot diagnose shallow breathing (JR Bach, M.D.)." Serious symptoms arise most commonly during sleep; however, because when the body sleeps, the intercostal muscles do not perform the breathing for mechanism, it's done by the diaphragm, which is often impaired in people with NMDs.

Very often, after a sleep study, when someone's been unsuccessfully using positive airway pressure (PAP) ventilation, they are prescribed nasal oxygen at night; this should never be used without clear evidence of oxygen saturation of 94% or less; the non-judicious use of oxygen (which is a prescribed drug) may cause brain damage.

Additionally, polio survivors with breathing conditions and others with NMDs may be given a tracheostomy (a surgical opening for breathing made in the neck). Any one with symptoms arising during sleep must seek out specialists in neuro-muscular breathing conditions.[2][3][4][5]

The test to determine shallow breathing is simple and can be carried out at the bedside by a knowledgeable, licensed respiratory therapist.[6]

The writings of Dr. Edward Anthony Oppenheimer are being used by non-profits to help those with NMD-related breathing impairment.[7]

References

  1. ^ Dudley Ralph Appelman. "Breathing for Singing". in The Science of Vocal Pedagogy: Theory and Application. http://books.google.com/books?id=xiupq4KKFK8C&pg=PA3&sig=NNjEHAnh1po9OkvKZVq1y1kNN2I#PPA12,M1. 
  2. ^ http://www.post-polio.org/
  3. ^ http://www.postpolioinfo.com/
  4. ^ http://www.ventusers.org/edu/valnews/VAL_22-1sp08p6-7.pdf
  5. ^ http://www.ppsmanager.com/aboutPPS.html
  6. ^ http://www.aarc.org/
  7. ^ http://www.aarc.org/sections/home-care/bulletins/home_sept-oct01.pdf

Further reading

  • Bach, J.R. (1999). Guide to the evaluation and management of neuromuscular disease. Philadelphia, PA: Hanley & Belfus.
  • Gay, PC., & Edmonds, L.C. (1995). Severe hypercapnia after low-flow oxygen therapy in patients with neuromuscular disease and diaphragmatic dysfunction. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 70(4), 327-330.
  • Hsu, A., & Staats, B. (1998). "Postpolio" sequelae and sleep-related disordered breathing. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 73, 216-224.
  • Krachman, S., & Criner, G.J. (1998). Hypoventilation syndromes. Clinics in Chest Medicine, 19(l),139-155.

See also

References

  1. ^ Dudley Ralph Appelman. "Breathing for Singing". in The Science of Vocal Pedagogy: Theory and Application. http://books.google.com/books?id=xiupq4KKFK8C&pg=PA3&sig=NNjEHAnh1po9OkvKZVq1y1kNN2I#PPA12,M1. 
  2. ^ http://www.post-polio.org/
  3. ^ http://www.postpolioinfo.com/
  4. ^ http://www.ventusers.org/edu/valnews/VAL_22-1sp08p6-7.pdf
  5. ^ http://www.ppsmanager.com/aboutPPS.html
  6. ^ http://www.aarc.org/
  7. ^ http://www.aarc.org/sections/home-care/bulletins/home_sept-oct01.pdf
v · d · eSymptoms and signs: respiratory system (R04–R07, 786)
Hemorrhage
Abnormalities
of breathing
Other
Chest, general

M: RES

anat(n, x, l, c)/phys/devp

noco(c, p)/cong/tumr, sysi/epon, injr

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Rapid Shallow Breathing — Der Rapid Shallow Breathing Index (RSBI, engl.) bzw. Frequenz Volumen Atemindex ist ein Messwert, der das Verhältnis der Tiefe von Atemzügen zur Frequenz beschreibt, indem er den Quotienten von Atemfrequenz zu Tidalvolumen bildet. Der Wert wird… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Rapid Shallow Breathing Index — Der Rapid Shallow Breathing Index (RSBI, engl.) bzw. Frequenz Volumen Atemindex ist ein Messwert, der das Verhältnis der Tiefe von Atemzügen zur Frequenz beschreibt, indem er den Quotienten von Atemfrequenz zu Tidalvolumen bildet. Der Wert wird… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • shallow — [shal′ō] adj. [ME shalow < OE * scealw < IE base * (s)kel , to dry out > SHOAL2, Gr skellein] 1. not deep [a shallow lake] 2. lacking depth of character, intellect, or meaning; superficial 3. slight; weak [shallow breathing] …   English World dictionary

  • rapid shallow breathing index — the ratio of respiratory rate to tidal volume during spontaneous breathing; a higher value means less effective spontaneous breathing and greater likelihood of need for assisted ventilation …   Medical dictionary

  • shallow — [[t]ʃæ̱loʊ[/t]] shallower, shallowest 1) ADJ GRADED A shallow container, hole, or area of water measures only a short distance from the top to the bottom. Put the milk in a shallow dish... The water is quite shallow for some distance. ...the… …   English dictionary

  • shallow — shal|low [ˈʃæləu US lou] adj comparative shallower superlative shallowest 1.) measuring only a short distance from the top to the bottom ≠ ↑deep ▪ a shallow river ▪ The lake is quite shallow. ▪ the shallow end of the pool ▪ Place the meat in a… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • shallow — 1 adjective 1 something that is shallow has only a short distance from the bottom to the surface: a shallow river | the shallow end of the swimming pool | a shallow grave 2 not interested in or showing any understanding of important or serious… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • shallow — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English schalowe; probably akin to Old English sceald shallow more at skeleton Date: 14th century 1. having little depth < shallow water > 2. having little extension inward or backward < office buildings have taken… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • shallow — shallowly, adv. shallowness, n. /shal oh/, adj., shallower, shallowest, n., adv., v. adj. 1. of little depth; not deep: shallow water. 2. lacking depth; superficial: a mind that is not narrow but shallow. 3. taking in a relatively small amount of …   Universalium

  • shallow — shal•low [[t]ˈʃæl oʊ[/t]] adj. low•er, low•est, 1) of little depth: shallow water[/ex] 2) lacking depth; superficial: a shallow mind[/ex] 3) taking in a relatively small amount of air in each inhalation: shallow breathing[/ex] 4) Usu., shallows.… …   From formal English to slang

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