Do you know your RR?

[ShaunBlake]

What is your respiratory rate -- do you know it? Whatever brings you to Apnea Board, I'll bet a Guinness to your favorite beverage that your respiratory rate (RR) is a very important (critical, even) factor and it would be prudent to determine it, and to be aware if it changes.

If you don't know, the rate is the number of breaths you take a minute. You can count the number of times you breathe in a minute; in a portion of a minute and multiply appropriately; or in a span of minutes and divide appropriately.


I'm not going to ask your RR, just curious to know if you knew/know it. So here's the poll:

[Matt00926]

Trying to measure your own respiratory rate is not really reliable. You consciously alter your breathing while doing so. That is why doctors do it discretely during an office visit.

[dwd1249]

SleepyHead gives you respiratory rate.

[SarcasticDave94]

My current RR is 10, but it has ranged from 8 to 12 overnight, if I'm remembering correctly.

[Walla Walla]

Mine averages 13 but don't tell ajack. He'll tell me it should be 12.

[ShaunBlake]

Trying to measure your own respiratory rate is not really reliable. You consciously alter your breathing while doing so. That is why doctors do it discretely during an office visit.

Do you mean unconsciously? You're right, it isn't really reliable, though it can be done with a pretty high degree of accuracy. (I calculate mine at 13; SH says it's 12.4... I'm okay with 1/2% error; it isn't going to significantly skew my O2 flow calculations.)

If you're curious how I achieved that, I admit, I fudged: I relaxed a couple of minutes then triggered a 3-minute timer and remained focused on relaxed breathing while counting. It really isn't difficult as long as I don't try to control my breathing.

[PollCat]

Given the fact that I'm currently under the care of 4 physicians, for several medical issues, whose nursing staffs do the usual office visit work up of BP, pulse, RR, and temp, I do know my RR!

[Hydrangea]

I caught a nurse measuring it once (couldn't think of any other reason she'd be looking at my chest for a sustained amount of time). I had never heard of such a thing before that!

[ShaunBlake]

hmm... PollCat, I've been a little impatient with my medical practitioners checking my weight and temp as well as my BP every time I went in but now I'm glad, and a little jealous that yours even checks your RR.

[mesenteria]

.... (I calculate mine at 13; SH says it's 12.4... I'm okay with 1/2% error...

5%