Which term would you use to describe rapid shallow breaths?

The term that accurately describes rapid, shallow breaths is tachypnea. This medical term specifically refers to an increased rate of breathing—typically defined as exceeding 20 breaths per minute in adults—while the shallow aspect indicates that the breaths taken are not deep enough to fully fill the lungs.

The condition can result from various factors, such as anxiety, fever, or respiratory issues, and it's important for healthcare providers to recognize this symptom as it can indicate an underlying problem that may require monitoring or intervention. Awareness of tachypnea is essential for assessing a patient’s respiratory status and potentially providing necessary treatments as part of their care plan.

The other choices listed represent different respiratory or cardiac terms: bradycardia refers to a slow heart rate, dyspnea describes difficult or labored breathing, and shortness of breath (often abbreviated as SOB) is a general term for difficulty breathing but does not specifically indicate the rate or depth of breaths.