Count breaths for a full minute while at rest and distracted. Twelve to twenty is the normal adult band, and deviations carry diagnostic weight.
Breaths per minute
— /min
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- Risk spectrum with your position marked
- Reference ranges from the original publication
- Shareable link, nothing stored
Scientific references
The forgotten vital sign
Respiratory rate changes earlier than heart rate or blood pressure in sepsis, deterioration and respiratory failure, yet it is the least measured vital sign. Wards that track it catch declines sooner.
How to count fairly
Watch the chest for sixty seconds while the person thinks you are checking their pulse. Knowing the count is being taken changes the breathing.
Understanding your result
- Under twelve is slow, normal in the very fit, worrying with drowsiness
- Twelve to twenty is the normal resting band
- Above twenty at rest deserves a reason, from fever to anxiety to illness
Trends beat snapshots
A personal baseline matters. A rise from your usual fourteen to nineteen can precede other symptoms by hours.