Top Doctors editorial
Created by: Top Doctors editorial
Respiratory failure occurs when not enough oxygen to the heart or when the lungs do not remove carbon dioxide from the blood. There are several diseases that cause respiratory failure.
- Lung diseases like COPD, embolism, pneumonia or fibrosis.
- Affections of nerves or muscles and spinal trauma, stroke or muscular dystrophy.
- Injuries in the ribs
- Abuse of alcohol or drugs
Treatment depends on whether the failure is short-term or chronic.