Breathing patterns in normal persons

ABSTRACT

The breathing pattern at rest was studied in 37 young healthy human volunteers [24.76 +/- 4.15 years] and 25 old healthy persons [61.56 +/- 10.53 years] using Lode respirometer. The mean respiratory frequency [f] was 16.95/min. in young and 15.92/min, in old persons. Tidal volumes varied 497 +/- 56, 453 +/- 39 ml. in the young and old respectively. Sighing occurred in elderly persons as well as in all females [young and old]. The rythmicity was more irregular in elderly. Minute ventilation is analyzed in terms of mean inspiratory flow [VT/Ti] which reflects respiratory center drive, and fractional inspiratory time [Ti/Ttot] which is a pure index of respiratory timing. In the young VT/Ti was 343 +/- 39 ml/sec. and Ti/Ttot 0.416 +/- 0.019. In the old VT/Ti was 291 +/- 28 ml/sec. and Ti/Ttot 0.414 +/- 0.02. Inspiratory duration was found approximately constant