Respiration Rate Vs. Metabolic Rate
The human body performs a multitude of simultaneous processes in order to function properly. When resting, only the vital functions continue. The respiratory rate and the metabolic rate are two important characteristics of these processes.
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Respiratory Rate
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The measure of breaths per minute while at rest is known as the respiratory rate. Measurement of the respiratory rate is calculated simply by counting the number of breaths taken in one minute. Respiratory rate increases with activity, so it should be measured while at rest.
Average Respiratory Rate
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Adults display an average respiratory rate between 10 and 14 breaths per minute. During extreme physical exercise, the respiratory rate will increase dramatically.
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Metabolic Rate
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Even when the body is at rest, it is still using energy to perform necessary functions such as breathing and the pumping of the heart. The minimal amount of energy needed to carry out these vital processes is known as the metabolic rate.
Calculation
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Calculation of the metabolic rate is more complex than calculating the respiratory rate. Many factors combine to determine metabolic rate including weight, height, age and respiratory rate. Physiologists have formulated a few equations to determine the metabolic rate using these factors.
Considerations
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Metabolic rate can be thought of as the amount of calories, a unit of energy, needed to carry out bodily functions. Depending upon how much energy we consume in food and how much we expend in physical activity on a daily basis, the metabolic rate may fluctuate over time.
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