Our Lungs and Breathing

All living humans and animals breathe to survive.*  In humans, our brain tells our lungs when to breathe.  The number of breaths depends on the level of our activity. When ill breathing changes, increasing or decreasing.

Breathing rates should be tested when a person is resting and over a one-minute duration.

The average rate for a healthy adult is between 12 and 18 breaths per minute.  As we age our breathing rate increases.  A faster breathing rate is seen among the elderly, especially those in long-term care facilities.  

At Private Home Health Care we stress the importance for the elderly to take care of their lungs by deep breathing, exercise, staying hydrated and making sure laughter is present in their lives.  Let’s keep those lungs healthy!!

*In 2020, scientists discovered the first known animal that does not breathe.  It is named Henneguya salminicola or H. salminicola for short.  Check it out!