What it means
A state of labored breathing in which the body works visibly to breathe. Signs include fast breathing, use of the neck and chest muscles to breathe, flaring nostrils, skin pulling in between the ribs (retractions), grunting in infants, sitting forward to breathe, trouble speaking, restlessness and a bluish color (cyanosissy-uh-NOH-sisA blue or gray color of the skin, lips or nail beds.cyan/o blue-osis abnormal conditionFull entry ). It can come from the lungs, the heart, an airway blockage or a severe illness elsewhere. Respiratory distress syndrome is a specific lung disease of premature babies.
For the nurse
Stay with the client, raise the head of the bed, apply oxygen as ordered, check oxygen saturation and call for help. Restlessness or new confusion can mean low oxygen.
At a glance
| Spanish | dificultad respiratoria |
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Related terms
dyspnea
Difficult or labored breathing, or the feeling of not getting enough air.
stridor
A high-pitched, harsh sound made while breathing, usually heard when breathing in.
tachypnea
A breathing rate faster than normal, above 20 breaths per minute in an adult.
hypoxia
A lower than normal level of oxygen in the body's tissues.
cyanosis
A blue or gray color of the skin, lips or nail beds.