What will happen if your respiratory system fails to function properly?

When a person has acute respiratory failure, the usual exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs does not occur. As a result, enough oxygen cannot reach the heart, brain, or the rest of the body. This can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, a bluish tint in the face and lips, and confusion.

What body functions are affected by respiratory conditions?

Your respiratory system is the network of organs and tissues that help you breathe. This system helps your body absorb oxygen from the air so your organs can work. It also cleans waste gases, such as carbon dioxide, from your blood. Common problems include allergies, diseases or infections.

What are the complications of respiratory failure?

The major GI complications associated with acute respiratory failure are hemorrhage, gastric distention, ileus, diarrhea, and pneumoperitoneum. Stress ulceration is common in patients with acute respiratory failure; the incidence can be reduced by routine use of antisecretory agents or mucosal protectants.

How do you fix your respiratory system?

7 ways to improve your respiratory health

1. Stop smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke.
2. Avoid indoor and outdoor air pollution.
3. Avoid exposure to people who have the flu or other viral infections.
4. Exercise regularly.
5. Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
6. Maintain a healthy weight.
7. See your doctor for an annual physical.

What happens to your body when you have acute respiratory failure?

Acute respiratory failure occurs when fluid builds up in the air sacs in your lungs. When that happens, your lungs can’t release oxygen into your blood. In turn, your organs can’t get enough oxygen-rich blood to function. You can also develop acute respiratory failure if your lungs can’t remove carbon dioxide from your blood.

When does respiratory failure cause a low level of oxygen in the blood?

Other Names When respiratory failure causes a low level of oxygen in the blood, it’s called hypoxemic (HI-pok-SE-mik) respiratory failure. When respiratory failure causes a high level of carbon dioxide in the blood, it’s called hypercapnic (HI-per-KAP-nik) respiratory failure.

What happens when you don’t have enough oxygen in your body?

Respiratory failure happens when the capillaries, or tiny blood vessels, surrounding your air sacs can’t properly exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen. The condition can be acute or chronic. With acute respiratory failure, you experience immediate symptoms from not having enough oxygen in your body.

What to do if you have respiratory failure?

In treating respiratory failure, most patients are first given oxygen, then the underlying cause of respiratory failure must be treated. For example, antibiotics are used to fight a lung infection, or, for an asthmatic patient, a drug to open up the airways is commonly prescribed.

What happens to your body when you have respiratory failure?

If the level of oxygen is very low, it also can cause a bluish color on the skin, lips, and fingernails. A high carbon dioxide level can cause rapid breathing and confusion. Some people who have respiratory failure may become very sleepy or lose consciousness. They also may develop arrhythmias (ah-RITH-me-ahs), or irregular heartbeats.

What happens to your lungs when your brain loses function?

These changes in lung tissue can allow air to get trapped in your lungs. Too little oxygen may enter your blood vessels and less carbon dioxide may be removed. This makes it hard to breathe. The part of the brain that controls breathing may lose some of its function. When this happens, your lungs are not able to get enough oxygen.

What happens when the lungs Don’t get Enough oxygen?

When the organs don’t get enough blood and oxygen, they become damaged and eventually shut down (organ failure).The lungs are responsible for adding oxygen to the blood and removing excess carbon dioxide. If they are unable to do this, your major organs can get too much carbon dioxide and not enough oxygen.

Other Names When respiratory failure causes a low level of oxygen in the blood, it’s called hypoxemic (HI-pok-SE-mik) respiratory failure. When respiratory failure causes a high level of carbon dioxide in the blood, it’s called hypercapnic (HI-per-KAP-nik) respiratory failure.