A patient logs a respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute. What term describes this condition?

The term that describes a respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute is tachypnea. Tachypnea refers to an increased respiratory rate, typically defined as more than 20 breaths per minute in adults. This condition can occur due to various factors, including exercise, anxiety, fever, or respiratory distress. Recognizing tachypnea is important in clinical settings, as it often indicates that the body is compensating for increased metabolic demands or decreased oxygenation.

Understanding the other terms provides additional context: bradypnea refers to a slower than normal respiratory rate, apnea indicates a cessation of breathing, and orthopnea describes difficulty breathing while lying flat, which can be seen in conditions like heart failure. Hence, tachypnea is the appropriate term to describe a respiratory rate of 40 breaths per minute.