What term describes an increased rate and depth of breathing often associated with emotional stress and DKA?

Prepare for the New York State Paramedic Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Enhance your readiness for the exam!

The term that best describes an increased rate and depth of breathing, especially in the context of emotional stress and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), is hyperpnea. Hyperpnea refers to an increased respiratory rate and volume in response to metabolic demands, which can be triggered by various factors, including emotional distress or medical conditions like DKA.

In DKA, the body attempts to compensate for metabolic acidosis by increasing breathing to expel carbon dioxide and help restore pH balance, leading to the observed hyperpnea. This term accurately reflects the physiological response characterized by both rapid and deep breaths.

Cheyne-Stokes breathing, which involves a cyclical pattern of apnea and then gradually increasing and decreasing breathing, does not describe the continuous state seen in hyperpnea. Kussmaul breathing, while it also refers to deep, labored breathing associated with metabolic acidosis, is specifically linked with conditions like diabetic ketoacidosis but does not encompass the emotional stress component as directly as hyperpnea. Apneustic breathing, characterized by prolonged inhalation followed by short, incomplete exhalation, is less relevant in this context as it does not align with the described symptoms of rapid and deep breaths.

Overall, hyperpnea is the appropriate

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