Respiratory Failure: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Respiratory failure is a serious condition where your lungs are unable to regulate normal levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. It can occur suddenly (acute) or develop gradually (chronic), and if not treated timely, it can become life-threatening.

We have a multidisciplinary team at the best pulmonology hospital in Noida equipped with the most advanced diagnostic and critical care support equipment to provide the best treatment for respiratory failure.

In this blog post, we will help you learn about what respiratory failure is, why it happens, symptoms of it, and the importance of timely medical intervention.

If you or your loved one experiences even a hint of respiratory distress, don't wait. Visit the best hospital for precise diagnosis and treatment. Call us immediately at +91 9667064100.

What is Respiratory Failure?

Respiratory failure is a severe medical condition in which the lungs cannot supply sufficient oxygen to the body or eliminate sufficient carbon dioxide from the blood. This condition can lead to serious complications and requires immediate medical intervention, especially in the case of acute respiratory failure, which develops rapidly. It may also gradually develop over time, referred to as chronic respiratory failure.

Normally, your heart and lungs work together to supply oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Respiratory failure occurs when illness, trauma, or pre-existing health interrupt this process. It can be fatal if left untreated.

How Does Breathing Work?

To comprehend respiratory failure, it is easier to comprehend the breathing process (respiration). As you inhale, you take oxygen into your lungs, which spreads to small air sacs known as alveoli. From there, oxygen travels to your blood, and your blood travels throughout your body to nourish cells.

Once your cells have used this oxygen, they expel carbon dioxide as a waste product. This carbon dioxide is carried back to your lungs and expelled when you breathe out. If your heart or lungs are unable to carry out this function well, oxygen in the blood can fall, or carbon dioxide can accumulate—resulting in respiratory failure.

What are the Types of Respiratory Failure?

There are four general types of respiratory failure:

Type 1 Respiratory Failure 

• It happens when your blood isn't getting enough oxygen.

• Typically, lung conditions such as pneumonia, asthma, or pulmonary embolism cause this condition.

Type 2 Respiratory Failure

• It happens when your blood has too much carbon dioxide.

• COPD, diseases of muscles, and neurological disorders are usual etiologies.

Type 3 Respiratory Failure

• It can happen after surgery, particularly if anesthesia or complications injure your lung function.

Type 4 Respiratory Failure

• Type 4 respiratory failure is characterized by conditions such as sepsis or heart attack, which lead to a reduction in blood pressure and oxygenation.

What are the Common Symptoms of Respiratory Failure?

Symptoms may differ with the type and severity of the condition but are generally:

• Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath

• Increased heart rate

• Blue color of lips, skin, or nails (cyanosis)

• Drowsiness or tiredness

• Confusion, restlessness, or bizarre behavior

• Sweating or paleness of the skin

• Coughing blood or bloody sputum

• Headache or blurred vision

If you experience any of the symptoms, especially if they appear suddenly, you should seek emergency treatment from the pulmonology treatment cost in Noida.

What are the Causes of Respiratory Failure?

Respiratory failure can occur  due to:

• Lung conditions (e.g., COPD, asthma, ARDS, pneumonia)

• Heart conditions (e.g., heart attack, congenital heart disease, heart failure)

• Neurological or muscular disease affecting breathing (e.g., ALS, muscular dystrophy)

• Severe chest trauma or spinal cord injury

• Toxic exposure or tobacco smoking

• Anesthesia during surgery

• During pregnancy

• Alcohol or sedative overdose

How is Respiratory Failure Diagnosed?

Doctors perform several tests to diagnose respiratory failure:

• Pulse Oximetry: A small, painless clip on your finger measures oxygen in your blood.

• Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Test: Your blood sample from your artery measures oxygen and carbon dioxide.

• Lung Function Tests: You blow into a machine that measures the effectiveness of your lungs. 

• Chest X-rays or CT Scans: These will show infection, fluid accumulation, or structural issues in your lungs. 

• Electrocardiogram (EKG): This test monitors heart function, particularly if there is a suspected heart condition.

What is the Treatment for Respiratory Failure?

Treatment differs depending on the cause and whether it is acute or chronic:

• Oxygen therapy: It involves increasing the amount of oxygen in your blood by using a mask or nasal tube.

• Mechanical Ventilation: If the situation is severe, a ventilator helps you breathe using a breathing machine.

• ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation): If your lungs are severely damaged and cannot supply your body with oxygen or eliminate carbon dioxide, ECMO acts as an artificial lung. It is an advanced machine that draws blood out of your body, adds oxygen, removes carbon dioxide, and then returns it to your body—giving your lungs time to recover.

• IV Fluids: These enhance blood circulation and enable oxygen to reach your tissues.

• Medications: Your doctor will prescribe the medications to address the underlying illness (e.g., antibiotics for infection, bronchodilators for asthma).

Chronic diseases can be treated at home with oxygen therapy and medications, but ongoing monitoring by the best pulmonology doctor in Noida is crucial.

Book an appointment today with the best pulmonary specialists at Felix Hospitals.

Conclusion

Respiratory failure is a clinical emergency that must never be taken lightly. Whether the onset is sudden or insidious, prompt treatment and intervention can determine the outcome. We provide complete care with the most advanced respiratory and critical care amenities. Our professionals are well-experienced in providing the best possible care to patients with respiratory failure or any other critical respiratory ailment. If you or a family member have any symptom of difficulty breathing, don't delay—get medical attention immediately at an affordable cost.

FAQs on Respiratory Failure 

Q: Is respiratory failure reversible?
Yes, in most cases, particularly if recognized early. Acute respiratory failure can be treated with emergency interventions such as oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation. Chronic respiratory failure can be treated with long-term medication and lifestyle modification.

Q: Does respiratory failure always include lung disease?
Not always. Although lung diseases are the most common cause, neurological disease, muscular disease, severe infections such as sepsis, or intraoperative complications can lead to respiratory failure.

Q: In what way is shortness of breath different from respiratory failure?
Shortness of breath is a symptom of respiratory failure. Respiratory failure is a severe illness in which your lungs are no longer able to do their most fundamental job of gas exchange correctly.

Q: Who is most likely to get respiratory failure?
People with chronic pulmonary or cardiac illness, the elderly, neonates, smokers, and those exposed to air pollution are at increased risk. Surgical patients and neuromuscular disease patients are also at increased risk.

Q: Is it possible to recover from respiratory failure at home?
Acute respiratory failure must be managed in the hospital. Chronic types can be treated at home under a doctor’s guidance by oxygen therapy, medication, lifestyle modification, and regular follow-ups with a physician.