What is the normal respiratory rate range for adults?

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Multiple Choice

What is the normal respiratory rate range for adults?

Normal resting respiratory rate for adults is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. When someone is at rest with quiet, unlabored breathing, counting breaths for a full minute should fall within this range. Rates below 12 can indicate bradypnea, while rates above 20 indicate tachypnea. The range 12–20 is the standard reference, making it the best match for normal adult breathing. The other options either fall below (8–12) or above (20–28) the typical range, or are slightly outside the commonly used upper limit (14–22).

Normal resting respiratory rate for adults is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. When someone is at rest with quiet, unlabored breathing, counting breaths for a full minute should fall within this range. Rates below 12 can indicate bradypnea, while rates above 20 indicate tachypnea. The range 12–20 is the standard reference, making it the best match for normal adult breathing. The other options either fall below (8–12) or above (20–28) the typical range, or are slightly outside the commonly used upper limit (14–22).

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