Acute respiratory failure: Causes, symptoms, and prevention

This can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, a bluish tint in the face and lips, and confusion.

Acute respiratory failure has many possible causes. The cause may be acute, including pneumonia, or chronic, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Acute respiratory failure is a serious illness. If a person thinks they or someone else has it, they should seek immediate medical attention.

A doctor can evaluate the person’s breathing, the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, and the overall symptoms to determine appropriate treatments.

Causes

Acute respiratory failure usually stems from difficulty getting enough oxygen to the lungs, problems removing carbon dioxide from the lungs, or both.

As a result, the respiratory system cannot perform its usual functions.

Potential causes include:

• disorders of the spine, such as scoliosis
• inhalation injuries, such as inhaling smoke from fires or fumes
• lung-related conditions, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, or a pulmonary embolism
• nerve or muscle conditions that affect a person’s ability to breathe, such as ALS, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injuries, or stroke
• an overdose from drugs or alcohol
• trauma to the chest, such as after a car accident

Determining the cause of acute respiratory failure helps a doctor determine the most appropriate treatments.

Types

Doctors typically classify acute respiratory failure as one of four types:

Type 1

Doctors call this hypoxemic respiratory failure. It means that a person is not exchanging oxygen properly in their lungs. This may be due to swelling or damage to the lungs.

A person with type 1 acute respiratory failure has very low oxygen levels.

Type 2

In a person with type 2 acute respiratory failure, the lungs are not removing enough carbon dioxide, which is a gas and a waste product. The lungs usually exchange carbon dioxide for fresh oxygen.

This type of respiratory failure causes carbon dioxide levels to be high. It may result from a drug overdose that has caused a person to breathe too slowly, or because of lung damage from smoking, which causes COPD.

Type 3

Doctors refer to this as perioperative respiratory failure. It occurs when a person has had surgery, and the small airways in the lungs have closed in greater numbers.

Factors such as pain or stomach surgery, which places higher pressure on the lungs, can also contribute to this type of respiratory failure.

Type 4

Type 4 respiratory failure is a shock state. It means that the body cannot adequately provide oxygen and maintain blood pressure on its own.

This can result from serious illness or injury, such as when a person loses too much blood.

Symptoms may include changes in a person’s appearance, ease of breathing, and how they act.

Examples of symptoms include:

• appearing very sleepy
• a blue tinge to a person’s fingernails, lips, or skin
• confusion
• irregular heart rhythms
• passing out
• rapid breathing
• shortness of breath

Generally, the symptoms of acute respiratory failure depend on the underlying cause.

Not all causes of acute respiratory failure, such as trauma, are preventable.

However, in the case of pneumonia and some other airway-related illnesses, a person can take some steps to protect their lungs.

These include:

• refraining from smoking cigarettes, which can damage the lungs
• seeing a doctor at early signs of a bacterial infection, such as a fever, cough, and high mucus production
• taking all medications a doctor prescribes to keep the heart and lungs healthy
• if necessary, using assistive devices to maintain oxygen levels, such as continuous positive airway pressure masks, which a person can wear at home
• engaging in appropriate levels of physical activity to enhance lung function

If a person has a history of lung problems and hospitalization, they should talk to their doctor about strategies to enhance their overall health.

Takeaway

Acute respiratory failure is a serious medical condition that has many possible underlying causes.

Symptoms include confusion, rapid breathing, and shortness of breath.

Seek immediate medical attention at the first signs of respiratory failure to prevent the illness from worsening.

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