Respiratory Failure - Living With - Living With
For both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) respiratory failure, it is important to follow your treatment plan, manage your condition, and know when you should seek medical care. You may need pulmonary rehabilitation to help your lungs work better.
Your oxygen and carbon dioxide levels may take a while to return to a healthy range. Because of this, you may continue to have shortness of breath or other symptoms for a few weeks or longer. You may need to do daily activities more slowly.
Manage your condition
Using a mechanical ventilator for a long time may hurt your lungs and windpipe. You may need follow-up care for these complications. As you recover at home, watch to see if they develop.
If you have chronic respiratory failure, you will likely need ongoing care. Ask your doctor how often you will need it. You may also have to carry a portable oxygen cannula and tank with you.
For either acute or chronic respiratory failure, your doctor may refer you to pulmonary rehabilitation. This is an exercise training, education, and counselling program that can help your lungs work better.
Your doctor may talk to you about ways to prevent complications in the future, especially if you have chronic respiratory failure.
- Quit smoking. Talk to your doctor about programs and products that can help you quit smoking. For more information about how to quit smoking, go to the Health Topics Smoking and Your Heart article and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Your Guide to a Healthy Heart. Although these resources focus on heart health, they include basic information about how to quit smoking. For free help and support to quit smoking, you may call the National Cancer Institute’s Smoking Quitline at 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848).
- Avoid lung irritants, such as air pollution, chemical fumes, dusts, and secondhand smoke.
- Avoid or limit alcohol. Talk to your doctor about how much alcohol you drink. Your doctor may recommend that you limit or stop drinking alcohol. You can find resources and support at the Alcohol Treatment Navigator from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. You should also avoid illegal drugs. Visit the Step by Step Guides to Finding Treatment for Drug Use Disorders from the National Institute on Drug Abuse for help.
- Get recommended vaccines. Your doctor may ask you and anyone who lives with you to get regular vaccines, a vaccine for pneumococcus, and a flu shot every year.
For more information about keeping your lungs healthy, visit our How the Lungs Work Health Topic.
Know when to seek help
If you have chronic respiratory failure, your symptoms may suddenly get worse. Call 9-1-1 for help if you suddenly have trouble breathing or talking.
Keep phone numbers handy for your doctor, the hospital, and someone who can take you for medical care. You should also have directions to the doctor's office and hospital and a list of all the medicines you're taking on hand.
Take care of your mental health
Living with chronic respiratory failure may cause fear, anxiety, depression, and stress. Talk about how you feel with your healthcare team or a professional counselor. They can help you find or learn ways to cope.
- Get treatment for depression. If you are depressed, your doctor may recommend medicines or other treatments that can improve your quality of life.
- Join a patient support group. You can learn how other people who have the similar symptoms have coped with them. Your doctor may be able to help you find local support groups, or you can check with an area medical center.
- Seek support from family and friends. Letting your loved ones know how you feel and what they can do to help you can help lower stress and anxiety.