Define tachypnea.

• A. Abnormally rapid breathing
• B. Slow, shallow breathing
• C. Difficult or painful breathing
• D. Normal breathing rate

Answer: (A)

Tachypnea is an abnormally rapid breathing rate. It means the person is breathing faster than normal for their age, typically described by a higher-than-normal number of breaths per minute. The defining feature is the speed of respiration, not necessarily how hard or labored the breaths are. In adults, a respiratory rate above about 20 breaths per minute is commonly considered tachypnea, though exact thresholds vary with age. This helps distinguish it from slower breathing (bradypnea), normal breathing (eupnea), or difficult/painful breathing (dyspnea). Tachypnea can signal illness or distress, such as fever, infection, metabolic disturbances, or respiratory problems, and it often prompts further assessment.