ACTIVITY
Briefly explain the main cause or mechanism of increase in respiratory rate or depth and/or respiratory difficulties in the following cases: (one to two sentences only)
Initiation of Exercise
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Proprioceptors activate the Dorsal Respiratory Group (DRG), gathering sensory information from diverse origins to adapt breathing patterns in response to heightened oxygen requirements during exercise while also guaranteeing the preservation of the body's internal equilibrium.
Moderate Exercise
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During exercise, increased muscle activity leads to a heightened demand for oxygen and greater carbon dioxide production, necessitating a rise in breathing frequency from approximately 15 breaths per minute at rest to 40-60 breaths per minute during physical activity to sustain the regulation of oxygen in your body.
Abrupt Ascent into High Altitudes
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The lung response to high altitude exposure makes it hyperventilate along with fast heart rate. The body has trouble adjusting to the difference in how much oxygen you’re getting with each breath due to the pressure it’s experiencing.
Paralysis of Phrenic Nerve
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When the phrenic nerve, responsible for diaphragm control, becomes paralyzed, it impairs the diaphragm's function, leading to inadequate lung ventilation and an increased need for oxygen, often resulting in heightened breathing efforts.
Severe Anemia
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Severe anemia lowers your blood's oxygen-carrying ability, resulting in tissue oxygen deprivation. In order to compensate, your respiratory system increases the rate and depth of your breathing to increase oxygen intake.
Advanced Pregnancy
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The increased progesterone levels during pregnancy impacts breathing patterns, resulting in deeper breaths for expectant mothers. This adjustment aids them in meeting the increased oxygen requirements that come with pregnancy.