What is the normal adult resting respiratory rate and what deviations are concerning?

• A. 12-20 breaths per minute; tachypnea (>20) or bradypnea (<12) warrant assessment.
• B. 6-8 breaths per minute; irregularities are normal.
• C. 25-30 breaths per minute; always normal for adults.
• D. 40-60 breaths per minute; typical.

Answer: (A)

At rest, adults normally breathe about 12 to 20 times per minute. When the rate rises above 20 breaths per minute, it’s called tachypnea and signals that you should assess breathing effort, oxygenation, and possible underlying causes such as fever, infection, anxiety, metabolic or respiratory problems. When the rate falls below 12 breaths per minute, that’s bradypnea and can indicate deeper issues like central nervous system depression or overdose, and it requires prompt evaluation. These thresholds help clinicians quickly identify breathing that isn’t adequate for the body's needs.

The other options give incorrect resting ranges or imply that irregular breathing is normal, which isn’t reliable for assessing patient safety.