Nocturnal Respiratory Rate

breaths per minute

Breathing rate tracked across the sleep period. Elevations or irregularities relative to baseline may indicate respiratory disruption or physiological stress.

Typical optimal range 12 br/min - 18 br/min

Population median 15 br/min

Holds within about one breath per minute night to night when you are well.

Key factors

Sleep position
Nasal congestion or respiratory illness
Body temperature and fever

What affects this metric

Pregnancy and higher body weight raise nocturnal breathing rate.
Fever and infection raise nocturnal breathing rate.
Alcohol and sedatives alter overnight breathing.
Altitude and allergies both raise it.

References

Peer-reviewed sources supporting the key factors, contributing factors, and typical optimal range shown above.

Natarajan A, Su HW, Heneghan C. Measurement of respiratory rate using wearable devices and applications to COVID-19 detection. npj Digital Medicine. 2021;4:136. doi.org/10.1038/s41746-021-00493-6
Cretikos MA, Bellomo R, Hillman K, Chen J, Finfer S, Flabouris A. Respiratory rate: the neglected vital sign. Medical Journal of Australia. 2008;188(11):657–659. doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb01825.x
Ebrahim IO, Shapiro CM, Williams AJ, Fenwick PB. Alcohol and sleep I: effects on normal sleep. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2013;37(4):539–549. doi.org/10.1111/acer.12006

This guide is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your clinician about your own results.