Why Is My Breathing Rate High?
The honest verdict
This is usually not an allergy
An increased respiratory rate is rarely caused by an allergy. Most cases are driven by anxiety, fever, dehydration, or underlying lung or heart conditions. While a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can cause rapid breathing due to airway swelling or asthma, this is a medical emergency that always occurs with other symptoms like hives, swelling, or trouble breathing. If rapid breathing happens without these allergic signs, a non-allergic cause is far more likely.
This is a general research summary, not a diagnosis. It can't tell you what's causing your symptom — a clinician can.
Check this first
When increased respiratory rate is an emergency
Most of the time this can be handled calmly. But a few signs mean you shouldn't wait. Match what you're seeing to the right level of care below.
If any emergency sign below is present, call 911 or go to the ER now.
- Emergency
Rapid breathing with blue or gray lips, face, or fingertips (cyanosis) — call 911 (sign of dangerously low oxygen).
Call 911 or go to the ER now
- Emergency
Sudden rapid breathing with chest pain, confusion, or loss of consciousness — call 911 (possible pulmonary embolism, heart attack, or severe asthma).
Call 911 or go to the ER now
- Emergency
Rapid breathing with hives, swelling of the lips or tongue, or trouble swallowing — call 911 (possible anaphylaxis).
Call 911 or go to the ER now
- Urgent
Rapid breathing that does not improve with rest, or is accompanied by wheezing, fever, or coughing up blood — seek urgent care or ER (possible pneumonia, asthma exacerbation, or other lung condition).
Get seen today — urgent care or same-day visit
- See a doctor
Persistent rapid breathing for more than a few hours without a clear cause (like exercise or anxiety) — see a clinician for evaluation of underlying heart, lung, or metabolic conditions.
Book a routine visit with a clinician
When in doubt, err toward getting seen. These tiers are a general guide, not a substitute for a clinician's judgment about your specific situation.
Key facts
A normal resting respiratory rate for adults is 12 to 20 breaths per minute; rates above 24 at rest are considered tachypnea and may need evaluation.
Anxiety and panic attacks are among the most common causes of sudden rapid breathing, affecting about 2-3% of adults annually in the U.S.
Anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, affects about 1.6% of the U.S. population and always involves multiple body systems — rapid breathing alone is not a typical presentation.
What's causing it
The same symptom can come from very different places. Here are the usual suspects for Chest and lungs — the respiratory system, including the airways, lungs, and chest wall muscles involved in breathing, tagged by mechanism and how common each one is — so you can see where an allergy actually fits.
Anxiety or panic attack
Anxiety and panic attacks are among the most common causes of a sudden increase in breathing rate. The body's 'fight or flight' response triggers rapid, shallow breathing (hyperventilation), often accompanied by a racing heart, dizziness, or tingling in the hands and face. It typically resolves when the anxiety subsides.
Fever or infection
When the body has a fever from an infection (like the flu, COVID-19, or pneumonia), metabolic demand increases, leading to a faster breathing rate. This is a normal physiological response. Other symptoms like cough, body aches, and fatigue are usually present.
Exercise or physical exertion
During exercise, muscles require more oxygen, so breathing rate increases naturally to meet demand. This is normal and temporary. Breathing rate should return to baseline within minutes of stopping activity.
Asthma or COPD exacerbation
In people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a flare-up can cause airway narrowing, leading to rapid, shallow breathing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. This requires prompt medical attention and may need rescue inhaler treatment.
Dehydration or electrolyte imbalance
Severe dehydration or electrolyte disturbances can affect the body's acid-base balance, triggering compensatory rapid breathing. This can occur after prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive sweating without adequate fluid replacement.
Allergic reaction or anaphylaxis
A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can cause rapid breathing due to airway swelling, bronchospasm, or a drop in blood pressure. This is a medical emergency and always occurs with other symptoms: hives, swelling of the lips or tongue, trouble swallowing, or difficulty breathing. It requires immediate epinephrine and emergency care.
Is this an allergy? Usually, no
It's a common assumption, so it's worth being clear about — and pointing you toward what's more likely going on.
An increased respiratory rate is usually not an allergy. While a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can cause rapid breathing due to airway swelling or bronchospasm, this is always accompanied by other allergic symptoms — hives, swelling of the lips or tongue, trouble swallowing, or difficulty breathing — and requires emergency treatment. If rapid breathing occurs without these signs, the cause is far more likely to be anxiety, fever, infection, or an underlying lung or heart condition. Allergies do not typically cause isolated tachypnea.
Because an allergy is unlikely to be the driver, the most useful next step is a clinician who can look at the actual cause — not an allergy test.
Relief you can try at home
If your symptom is mild and you have no red-flag signs, these gentle steps often help. They soothe — they don't replace figuring out the cause.
- 1
Sit upright and breathe slowly
Sitting upright helps open the airways. Try slow, deep belly breaths — inhale through your nose for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale through your mouth for 6 seconds. Repeat until your breathing rate slows.
- 2
Address anxiety or panic
If anxiety is the cause, grounding techniques (name 5 things you see, 4 you can touch, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you taste) can help calm the nervous system. Breathing into a paper bag is not recommended — it can dangerously lower oxygen levels.
- 3
Hydrate and rest
If dehydration or fever is the cause, rest in a cool environment and sip water or an electrolyte drink. Treat fever with over-the-counter medication if appropriate and recommended by a clinician.
- 4
Use a rescue inhaler if prescribed
If you have asthma or COPD and recognize the signs of a flare-up, use your prescribed rescue inhaler as directed. If symptoms do not improve within minutes or worsen, seek emergency care.
Stop any step that makes things worse. If the symptom isn't easing within a few days, check in with a clinician.
When to see a doctor
See a clinician if your breathing rate remains elevated for more than a few hours without a clear cause, or if it is accompanied by chest pain, wheezing, fever, coughing up blood, or dizziness. Sudden rapid breathing with blue lips, confusion, or loss of consciousness requires emergency care. If you have a known allergy and rapid breathing occurs with hives, swelling, or trouble swallowing, treat as anaphylaxis and call 911 immediately.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
It is very rare for allergies to cause rapid breathing alone. Seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis) can cause nasal congestion but do not typically increase breathing rate. A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can cause rapid breathing, but it always occurs with other symptoms like hives, swelling, or trouble breathing. If rapid breathing happens without these signs, a non-allergic cause is much more likely.
A normal resting respiratory rate for adults is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. A rate consistently above 20 breaths per minute at rest is considered tachypnea. In children, normal rates are higher and vary by age. A rate above 24-30 breaths per minute at rest, or one that is increasing, warrants medical evaluation.
Yes — anxiety and panic attacks can cause episodes of rapid breathing that last from minutes to hours. Hyperventilation from anxiety can also lead to dizziness, tingling, and chest tightness, which can further increase anxiety. If rapid breathing persists for hours without relief, or if you are unsure of the cause, seek medical evaluation to rule out other conditions.
Rapid breathing (tachypnea) refers to an increased rate of breathing — taking more breaths per minute than normal. Shortness of breath (dyspnea) is the sensation of not getting enough air, often described as 'air hunger' or chest tightness. They can occur together or separately. Rapid breathing can be a compensatory response to feeling short of breath.
Go to the ER if rapid breathing is accompanied by blue or gray lips or skin, chest pain, confusion, loss of consciousness, or if it comes on suddenly and severely. Also seek emergency care if rapid breathing occurs with signs of an allergic reaction (hives, swelling, trouble swallowing) or if you have a known heart or lung condition and your symptoms are worsening.
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Chet TharpeMD
Last reviewed July 2026
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Read moreThe best next step is a real clinician
This symptom is usually not driven by an allergy, so an allergy test won't give you the answer. A primary care doctor or the right specialist can examine what's actually going on and guide you from there.
Curex focuses on at-home allergy testing and immunotherapy, which isn't the right fit for this symptom — and never a substitute for medical care.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It cannot tell you what is causing your increased respiratory rate or whether it is an allergy. If you have any emergency sign — trouble breathing, fast-spreading swelling, sudden weakness or confusion, or severe pain — call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For anything that is new, worsening, or persistent, see a licensed healthcare provider. Curex focuses on at-home allergy testing and immunotherapy, which is not the appropriate care for this symptom and never a substitute for a clinician.