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Breathing - slowed or stopped

Respiration slowed or stopped; Not breathing; Respiratory arrest; Apnea

 

Breathing that stops from any cause is called apnea. Slowed breathing is called bradypnea. Labored or difficult breathing is known as dyspnea.

Considerations

 

Apnea can come and go and be temporary. This can occur with obstructive sleep apnea, for example.

Prolonged apnea means a person has stopped breathing. If the heart is still active, the condition is known as respiratory arrest. This is a life-threatening event that requires immediate medical attention and first aid.

Prolonged apnea with no heart activity in a person who is not responsive is called cardiac (or cardiopulmonary) arrest. In infants and children, the most common cause of cardiac arrest is respiratory arrest. In adults, the opposite usually occurs, cardiac arrest leads to respiratory arrest.

 

Causes

 

Breathing difficulty can occur for many different reasons. The most common causes of apnea in infants and small children are usually different from the most common causes in adults.

Common causes of breathing difficulties in infants and young children include:

  • Asthma
  • Bronchiolitis (inflammation and narrowing of the smaller breathing structures in the lungs)
  • Choking
  • Encephalitis (brain inflammation and infection that affects vital brain functions)
  • Gastroesophageal reflux (heartburn)
  • Holding one's breath
  • Meningitis (inflammation and infection of the tissue lining the brain and spinal cord)
  • Pneumonia
  • Premature birth
  • Seizures

Common causes of breathing trouble (dyspnea) in adults include:

  • Allergic reaction that causes tongue, throat, or other airway swelling
  • Asthma or other lung diseases
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Choking
  • Drug overdose, especially due to alcohol, narcotic painkillers, barbiturates, anesthetics, and other depressants
  • Fluid in the lungs
  • Obstructive sleep apnea

Other causes of apnea include:

  • Head injury
  • Heart attack
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Metabolic (body chemical, mineral, and acid-base) disorders
  • Near drowning
  • Stroke and other brain and nervous system (neurological) disorders

 

When to Contact a Medical Professional

 

Seek immediate medical attention or call your local emergency number (such as 911) if a person with any type of breathing problem:

  • Becomes limp
  • Has a seizure
  • Is not alert (loses consciousness)
  • Remains drowsy
  • Turns blue

If a person has stopped breathing, call for emergency help and perform CPR (if you know how). When in a public place, look for an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and follow the directions.

 

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

 

CPR or other emergency measures will be done in an emergency room or by an ambulance emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic.

Once the person is stable, the health care provider will do a physical exam, which includes listening to heart sounds and breath sounds.

Questions will be asked about the person's medical history and symptoms, including:

Time pattern

  • Has this ever happened before?
  • How long did the event last?
  • Has the person had repeated, brief episodes of apnea?
  • Did the episode end with a sudden deep, snorting breath?
  • Did the episode occur while awake or asleep?

Recent health history

  • Has the person had a recent accident or injury?
  • Has the person been ill recently?
  • Was there any breathing difficulty before breathing stopped?
  • What other symptoms have you noticed?
  • What medicines does the person take?
  • Does the person use street or recreational drugs?

Diagnostic tests that may be done include:

  • Airway support, including oxygen, breathing tube through the mouth (intubation), and breathing machine (ventilator)
  • Blood and urine tests
  • Chest x-ray
  • EKG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing)
  • Fluids through a vein (intravenous or IV)
  • Medicines to treat symptoms, including antidotes to reverse the effects of poisoning or overdose

 

 

Open References

References

Donoghue AJ, Berg RA, Nadkarni V. Pediatric resuscitation. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 10.

Ward KR, Kurz MC, Neumar RW. Adult resuscitation. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 9.

 

        A Closer Look

         

          Talking to your MD

           

            Self Care

             

              Tests for Breathing - slowed or stopped

               
                 

                Review Date: 1/25/2015

                Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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