Respiratory Failure

Respiratory Failure – General Information

Respiratory Failure is almost any condition which interferes with the breathing function of the lungs or with the lungs themselves and leads to an abnormal function of these organs. The function of the chest and the lungs is to acquire the oxygen from the air, to conduct it to the bloodstream and to carry off from the blood the carbon dioxide through the air which is exhaled. When a person suffers from Respiratory Failure, this process is completely influenced and the level of oxygen in the blood is extremely low, whereas the level of carbon dioxide grows fast. There are two main problems which can result in such complications: either an abnormal gas exchange, which means that the carbon dioxide and the oxygen are interchanged between the air holes of the lungs and the blood or an improper ventilation of the lungs, which means that the movement of the air out and in the lungs does not go on properly. Considering these complications which lead to the appearance of the disease, the doctors divided Respiratory Failure into two main groups. The first one, which is the consequence of the improper gas exchange, is characterized by the fact that a small quantity of oxygen reaches the body, which means that a large number of tissues and organs in the body are affected. The second type is the result of a ventilatory failure which means that the carbon dioxide is not eliminated completely when the sufferer exhales; this condition is usually the result of other diseases.

Respiratory Failure - Symptoms

There are certain abnormalities which can increase a person’s possibility of suffering from Respiratory Failure. The most common one, which was reported in most of the cases, is the obstruction of the airways which can lead to the appearance of a large number of disorders, such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma or cystic fibrosis. Weak breathing, another common abnormality, is characterized by the fact that the sufferer stops breathing while sleeping; this is usually the result of extreme obesity or drug and alcohol abuse, substances which affect the respiratory center. Muscle weakness is usually induced by a muscle disorder known as myasthenia and it is characterized by the paralysis of the respiratory muscles. Respiratory Failure can also be the result of a lung disease, such as pulmonary edema, pulmonary fibrosis, respiratory distress syndrome or pneumonia, other abnormalities, such as the presence of fluid in the interior of the lungs, a heart disease, lung cancer or radiation exposure. Scoliosis or a severe abnormality of the chest wall can also increase the risk of suffering from this disease. In most of the cases, those who suffer from this disease are short of breath and this can lead to the damage of the mental functions; as a result, the sufferers become disoriented and confused and they find it harder to accomplish their normal activities. As the level of carbon dioxide grows higher and higher the patients experience severe headaches, semi-consciousness and even coma. The skin may become bluish and the heart beats are abnormal, a condition which is known as arrhythmia.

Respiratory Failure – Treatment

If you notice the appearance of one or more of the signs and symptoms presented above, you should consult a doctor in order to obtain a sure diagnosis and to benefit from the best way of treatment. However, the symptoms which characterize Respiratory Failure are not particularized and they depend a lot on the sufferer’s general health condition and the cause of the appearance of the disease. This is the reason why, in order to obtain an appropriate diagnosis, the doctor has to measure carefully the levels of carbon dioxide, oxygen and acid in the blood; this should be done at regular intervals of time in order to notice the patient’s evolution. The doctor can also notice the changes which the patient goes through; for example, a sudden drop of the oxygen level can cause a contraction of the arteries and a higher resistance of the vessels, whereas a sudden high level of carbon dioxide can cause a high pressure in the fluids which surround the spinal cord and the brain. All these changes can be measured.

After a patient is diagnosed with Respiratory Failure, the doctor has to choose carefully which treatment he will administrate to the patient. However, the first measure which must be taken is to give oxygen to the sufferer; then the underlying cause of the appearance of the disease must be treated. For example, if the cause of the disease was an infection, the doctor will probably choose to administrate the sufferer some antibiotics, whereas if the cause of the disease was the blockage of an airway, the treatment consists in some drugs which open the airway. If the patient’s condition does not improve enough, the doctor may choose to use a ventilator in order to help him breathe. This ventilator consists in a plastic tube which is introduced through the patient’s mouth or nose into the windpipe and then it is connected to a machine which pushes air into the lungs. This measure is extremely useful and it is especially used in the case of those patients who are diagnosed with Respiratory Failure in an advanced stage. However, this is quite a risky process and the patient need permanent supervision, as it is extremely important to keep the pressure of the air at a normal level.

In addition to these measures, those who suffer from Respiratory Failure are usually prescribed some other medicines as well; for example, patients are usually given drugs in order to keep them calm and steroids in order to avoid the appearance of an inflammation. In addition, the doctor may choose to adjust the sufferer’s diet in order to make sure that he gets the right amount of fluids so that the lungs and the heart function normally. Even though the treatment for Respiratory Failure is not necessarily complicated, it is better to prevent the disease than to treat it. In order to reduce the risk of suffering from this disorder, one should effectively treat any lung disease, heart disease or other infection which he may suffer from.