Respiratory Failure
Your lungs have two primary jobs: delivering oxygen to your blood, which keeps your organs and tissues healthy, and removing carbon dioxide. When you have respiratory failure, your lungs are unable to properly fulfill these functions. A build-up of carbon dioxide damages cells in your body and may not leave enough room for oxygen to get into your blood. Left untreated, this condition can be deadly.
Respiratory failure can have a variety of causes, from chest or spinal cord injuries to lung conditions to excessive drug or alcohol use among others.
Symptoms of respiratory failure
Respiratory failure can be chronic, an ongoing problem that develops over time, or it can be short-lived (acute) with symptoms coming on suddenly. Acute respiratory failure requires immediate medical attention.
Common symptoms of respiratory failure include:
- Blue lips, fingers or toes
- Blurred vision
- Confusion or loss of consciousness
- Extreme tiredness when climbing stairs or doing other daily activities
- Irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath or feeling that you can’t get enough air
- Unexplainable drowsiness
Diagnosing and treating respiratory failure
To diagnose respiratory failure, your doctor or other health care provider will conduct a physical exam and review your medical history. You’ll also undergo testing to determine the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood. Tests may include:
- Breathing evaluations, such as spirometry
- Imaging tests such as chest X-rays or CT scans
- Blood tests
- Biopsy (sample) of lung tissue
Treatment depends on a variety of factors including the cause and severity of respiratory failure. Your treatment plan may include:
Oxygen therapy. This form of therapy, also known as supplemental oxygen, increases your oxygen intake, helping to relieve symptoms like shortness of breath and to support your overall health.
Medication. Medications may reduce symptoms like inflammation, help you breathe better or treat the underlying condition causing respiratory failure.
Other treatments. Surgical procedures or use of a ventilator (device that blows air into your lungs) may help in the treatment of this condition.
Lifestyle changes. Quitting tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption and exercising regularly can help with symptom management and reduce your risk of future health problems.