Bradypnea can be caused by:

Bradypnea can be caused by:

• A. Oversedation
• B. Hyperventilation
• C. Anxiety
• D. Increased metabolic rate

Answer: (A)

Bradypnea is a slower-than-normal breathing rate, caused when the brain’s respiratory drive is suppressed. Oversedation from excessive sedatives or opioids dampens the brainstem’s control of respiration, leading to slower, shallower breaths. This central depression reduces the ventilatory response to CO2, producing bradypnea. In contrast, hyperventilation raises breathing rate, anxiety typically increases rate, and a higher metabolic rate increases CO2 production that usually provokes faster breathing to compensate. So oversedation best explains why bradypnea occurs.

Bradypnea is a slower-than-normal breathing rate, caused when the brain’s respiratory drive is suppressed. Oversedation from excessive sedatives or opioids dampens the brainstem’s control of respiration, leading to slower, shallower breaths. This central depression reduces the ventilatory response to CO2, producing bradypnea. In contrast, hyperventilation raises breathing rate, anxiety typically increases rate, and a higher metabolic rate increases CO2 production that usually provokes faster breathing to compensate. So oversedation best explains why bradypnea occurs.