Which medical term best describes increased respiratory effort?

The term that best describes increased respiratory effort is tachypnea. Tachypnea refers specifically to rapid breathing, which often involves an increase in respiratory effort as the body tries to compensate for various physiological demands such as low oxygen levels or respiratory distress. When a person is experiencing tachypnea, they may appear to be breathing faster than normal, and this can indicate a variety of underlying conditions requiring attention.

In contrast, asthma is a chronic condition that causes difficulty in breathing due to airway constriction, but does not directly define increased respiratory effort alone. Cardiac arrest signifies a cessation of heart function, and while this can lead to respiratory issues, it does not specifically reflect increased effort in breathing. Bradypnea, on the other hand, is characterized by abnormally slow breathing, which is the opposite of increased respiratory effort. Understanding these distinctions is essential in recognizing the clinical implications of respiratory patterns in medical practice.