1. Initiation of exercise
- When we exercise, we use a lot of energy than the usual, making us our respiratory rate increase that is why when we begin to exercise, our breathing rate increases to consume more oxygen that is needed
2. Moderate exercise
- As we exercise, we need to be full of energy, thus, our muscles require more oxygen in order to function well. Our respiratory rate increases during moderate exercise because we require more energy in the form of oxygen to be pumped by our lungs and to be distributed into our blood and muscles.
3. Asthma attack
- When we experience asthma attack, the air that we inhale gets trapped in our lungs, making us experience difficulty in breathing, meaning, less oxygen is consumed. As a response, our breathing rate increases and becomes faster in order to consume more oxygen that is required for us to survive.
4. Abrupt ascent into high altitudes
- The volume of the lungs dereases as we are are exposed to higher altitudes, thus, less oxygen is consumed in one breathing. As a result, we begin to breathe faster in order to attain more oxygen.
5. Pneumonia
- Pneumonia causes inflammation in the lungs and build-up of fluids called mucus in which it affects the breathing mechanism of the body, making it harder for oxygen to pass through the lungs. Breathing rate increases to gain more oxygen for the body.
6. Paralysis of phrenic nerve
- The phrenic nerve is involved in the contraction and expansion of the diaphragm when breathing. the paralysis of this nerve will cause us to experience shortness of breath, thus, increasing our respiratory rate to consume more oxygen.
7. Severe tuberculosis with resulting lung scar tissue
- Tuberculosis causes inflammation in the airway, blocking the passage of air in the lungs, which results to the infection of the airway and movement of the infection to the healthy areas of the lungs. Difficulty in breathing observed as a consequence, increasing the respiratory rate to sustain the body with more sufficient oxygen.
8. Severe anemia
- Anemia happens when a person has an insufficient amount of oxygen-rich blood, so to compensate, increase in breathing rate allows more oxygen to be pumped by the lungs which is later on distributed in the blood.
9. advanced COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- When a person experiences advanced COPD, the airway of the lungs becomes obstructed due to inflammation and clogging from mucus, thus, the person experiences difficulty in inhaling and exhaling. Therefore, there will be an increase in respiration rate to consume the oxygen requirement of the body.
10. Advanced pregnancy
- The fetus inside the uterus also requires oxygen to survive that is why there is an increase in the breathing rate of the mother carrying it. In addition, the uterus also expands as the fetus grows bigger, pressing on the diaphragm, thus, shortness of breath is observed as a reult.