What indicates that a person is experiencing gasping rather than normal breathing?

Gasping is characterized by irregular and sporadic sounds that typically occur in the absence of effective breathing. This can be a sign of serious medical conditions, such as cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. In contrast to normal breathing, which is generally rhythmic and steady, gasping comes across as erratic and can sometimes be mistaken for a type of breathing due to its sporadic nature.

Other options describe breathing patterns or sounds that do not fit the description of gasping. Regular steady breaths indicate normal, healthy breathing, while audible wheezing sounds suggest an obstruction in the airways but do not represent the gasping pattern. No sounds at all might indicate a lack of breathing, which is more severe than gasping and requires immediate action.