Acute respiratory failure means that your lungs have stopped doing their normal function, which is gas exchange. If this happens, you will feel short of breath, tired, and confused. You might look bluish and even go unconscious. This can happen due to many reasons such as trauma to your chest, infection in your lung, chronic lung diseases, pulmonary embolism and neurological diseases. It can also happen due to head trauma and drug or alcohol overdose.
Abnormally rapid breathing
common
Difficulty breathing
Rapidly developing
common
Rapid heart rate
or Irregular heartbeat
common
Bluish discoloration of the skin
Lips, In hand, Fingernails, In feet
common
Confusion
common
Headache
Insidious
Chronic or persistent pain
common
Fatigue
common
Anxiety
or Irritability
common
Feeling sleepy
common
Shaking
Both sides
Tremor of the hand when the wrist is extended
A sudden and temporary alteration of muscle tone, movements or behavior
or Fainting
Infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs
or Recent upper respiratory tract infection
or Infection in any part of urinary system
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Recent hospitalization
Smoking
Cystic fibrosis
Breathing stops involuntarily during sleep
Recent chest injury or trauma
Recent thoracic surgery
or History of cardiac surgery
Head injury
or Recent back injury or trauma
Burns
Anesthesia induction
or Use of sedative drugs
or Alcohol consumption
or Intravenous drug abuse
or Drug or substance abuse
History of Guillain-Barré syndrome
or History of myasthenia gravis
Recent blood transfusion
If you have Acute Respiratory Failure, then visit a pulmonologist as soon as possible.
Contact a
Pulmonologist