Respiratory Failure - Causes and Effects

Respiratory failure occurs when the respiratory system is unable to provide adequate oxygen to the body's tissues, leading to potential life-threatening complications.
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Application
Breathing Issues | Oxygen Delivery | Critical Care | Oxygen Deprivation | Life-threatening Condition
Prepared by Lee Cheng, reviewed by Dr. Helena Rodriguez

Respiratory Failure FAQ


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What are the different types of respiratory failure?

Respiratory failure can be classified based on chronicity (i.e., acute, chronic, and acute on chronic). A thorough understanding of respiratory failure is crucial to managing this disorder. If either type of respiratory failure is not identified and addressed early, it will become life-threatening and lead to respiratory arrest, coma, and death.

What are the symptoms of respiratory failure?

The symptoms of respiratory failure depend on the cause and the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood. A low oxygen level in the blood can cause shortness of breath and air hunger (the feeling that you can't breathe in enough air). Your skin, lips, and fingernails may also have a bluish color.

Are You at risk of respiratory failure?

When any of these are impaired we are at risk of respiratory failure. Respiratory failure is defined by low blood oxygen levels and there may also be raised blood carbon dioxide levels. There are various causes of respiratory failure, the most common being due to the lungs or heart.

What causes chronic respiratory failure?

Some causes of chronic respiratory failure include: respiratory muscle weakness, which can occur with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) There are two types of acute and chronic respiratory failure: hypoxemic and hypercapnic. Both conditions can trigger serious complications, and they often occur together.

Respiratory Failure References

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