What is considered labored breathing?

Labored breathing refers to an increased effort required to breathe, indicating that a person is struggling to get enough air. This can occur due to various conditions, such as respiratory disorders, physical exertion, or other health issues that affect the efficiency of the respiratory system.

When someone experiences labored breathing, they might demonstrate visible signs of distress, use accessory muscles (like those in the neck or abdomen), or show an altered breathing pattern, contrasting with normal or relaxation-induced breathing.

The other options involve different aspects of breathing: normal breathing under stress might still be within normal limits, slow and deep breathing is often associated with relaxation or a controlled calm state, and breathing with a decreased rate typically indicates an effort to conserve energy or may be due to conditions like hypoventilation. However, none of these imply the degree of effort that characterizes labored breathing.