Respiratory Distress: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Cost

Respiratory distress is a condition in which a person has difficulty breathing, usually due to an obstruction or injury to the respiratory system. This can include difficulty with inhalation, exhalation, or both. Severe cases of respiratory distress can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.

• Airway Obstruction: Airway obstruction, or difficulty breathing, is caused when the airways become narrowed, blocked, or inflated with fluid. It can be a medical emergency and can also cause other forms of respiratory distress.
• Congestive Heart Failure: Congestive heart failure can lead to fluid buildup in the lungs which leads to shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. This is an especially serious and potentially life-threatening form of respiratory distress.
• Asthma: Asthma is an inflammatory condition which leads to narrowing of the airways that can cause difficulty breathing due to an increase in airflow resistance and providing limited ventilation exchange.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): COPD occurs when airflow through the lungs becomes obstructed due to conditions such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, resulting in shortness of breath, increased respiratory rate and wheezing among other symptoms.
• Bronchiolitis: Bronchiolitis is a viral infection which causes inflammation in the small airways (bronchioles) that result in difficulties breathing for infants and young children who contract it.

• Respiratory distress is caused by a variety of conditions, including infections, allergies, asthma, injury to the lungs or chest, smoking, and certain chronic illnesses.
• In infants and young children it can be caused by underdeveloped airways or airway obstructions such as an enlarged adenoid or tonsil.
• In adults it can be caused by lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema and pneumonia, as well as heart failure and other conditions that make it hard to breathe.

• Difficulty breathing: Exhibits signs of laboured and/or rapid breathing, wheezing, or grunting.
• Fast breathing rate: Typically higher than the normal range for an infant or child.
• Increased heart rate: May be significantly faster than normal; commonly seen in combination with rapid respiration.
• Bluish skin colour (cyanosis): Lips, mouth or fingertips may have a blue cast due to lack of oxygen in the blood.
• Coughing: May produce abnormal sounds or different coloured mucus secretions such as greenish-yellow sputum indicate infection.
• Altered mental status: Can range from mild confusion to lethargy, agitation, and disorientation; accompanied by laboured and shallow breathing at times.
• Chest pain/tightness: Could be an indication of a collapsed lung (pneumothorax), pulled muscle (pleurisy), inflammation within the lungs, etc., which causes discomfort while coughing and/or deep respirations are being performed.

• Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke exposure.
• Make sure your vaccinations are current.
• Keep away from air pollution, outdoor or indoor.
• Stay hydrated and eat a healthy diet to maintain good respiratory health.
• Exercise regularly to strengthen breath control and increase lung capacity & efficiency.

• Physical examination:A physical examination may be used to identify any abnormal breath sounds (such as wheezing or stridor), chest pain, tachypnea, tachycardia, use of accessory respiratory muscles, and decreased oxygen saturation.
• Chest X-ray:A chest X-ray is a noninvasive radiological procedure that uses ionising radiation to produce an image of the internal structures of the thorax including lungs and airways which can help diagnose conditions causing respiratory distress, such as pneumonia or pulmonary edema.
• Arterial Blood Gas (ABG):An arterial blood gas test involves collecting a small sample of blood from an artery in order to measure levels of gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH, etc., which can provide information about how well the lungs are exchanging oxygen into the bloodstream.
• Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT):Pulmonary Function Tests involve measuring flow rates as well as volumes of air being inhaled and exhaled by a patient while they take deep breaths in order to assess ventilation effectiveness inside lungs and measure overall lung capacity, which can aid in diagnosing conditions causing respiratory distress like COPD or asthma.
• Bronchoscopy:Bronchoscopy is a medical procedure that images inside bronchi using an endoscope with attached light source which allows direct observation and biopsies for possible infections or diseases that might be causing inflammation within airways leading to difficulty breathing due difficulty in getting enough oxygen into body's circulatory system leading onto respiratory distress like symptoms.

• Brain damage due to inadequate oxygen supply.
• Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE).
• Development of asthma, pneumonia and other respiratory problems.
• Pulmonary hypertension caused by chronically low oxygen levels or thickening of the walls of the blood vessels in the lungs.
• Pulmonary edema, caused by excess fluids accumulating around the lungs and chest wall.
• Decreasing lung function, leading to chronic lung disease such as COPD or bronchiectasis.
• Cardiac arrhythmias from extreme pressure changes in the chest cavity when breathing is laboured.
• Respiratory failure which can lead to death.

• Boil holy basil leaves, neem leaves, pippali and fenugreek in water. Drink this up to 3-4 times a day.
• Add honey and black pepper powder to ginger juice, and have it twice a day.
• Mix turmeric powder in warm milk and drink one glass of this every day for relief from respiratory distress.
• Simmer 10-15 curry leaves in one cup of water for 15 minutes and strain the liquid then add honey or jaggery for taste and enjoy this drink up to three times a day for relief from respiratory troubles.
• Make an infusion of long pepper (Pippali) with equal proportions of licorice (Yastimadhu) root powder and ginger juice, consume it daily for effective results on respiration problems.

• Fruits and vegetables: Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables can help supply the body with nutrients needed for proper respiratory function.
• Herbs and spices: Adding herbs such as garlic, ginger, turmeric, thyme, cayenne pepper, fennel seeds, oregano can help increase circulation promoting better breathing.
• Whole grains: Whole grain foods are a great source of complex carbohydrates that supply the body with essential vitamins and minerals for healthy lungs and airways.
• Lean proteins: Foods like chicken, fish, legumes, and nuts provide your body with the protein needed to stay strong during respiratory distress.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: Foods such as salmon, tuna and other fatty fish are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which may help reduce inflammation in the airways during an attack of respiratory distress.

• Fried and processed foods:Fried and processed foods should be avoided as they can trigger coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, as well as other respiratory issues.
• Dairy products:Dairy products like milk, cheese, butter and cream should be avoided as they can produce mucus and increase inflammation in the airways.
• Processed meats:Meats like bacon, salami or sausage that have been cured or smoked can increase inflammation in the lungs and exacerbate breathing difficulties.
• Citrus fruits:Citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits contain high amounts of citric acid which can further irritate or narrow the airways making it difficult to breathe properly.
• Sugary drinks:Beverages that are loaded with sugar such as sodas or energy drinks should be avoided as they can worsen inflammation present in respiratory distress.

• Chest physical therapy:Chest physical therapy is a type of exercise and breathing technique used to treat individuals with respiratory issues, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.
• Oxygen Therapy:Helps provide oxygen directly to the lungs, which can help reduce breathing difficulty due to hypoxia or other conditions causing hypoxemia (low oxygen levels).
• Mechanical ventilation (CPAP/BiPAP) :The use of ventilatory assistance to improve the overall lung function in a patient suffering from respiratory distress is called mechanical ventilation or assisted ventilation.
• Tracheostomy:Involves making an incision in the trachea and inserting a tube that links to a ventilator. The procedure helps to alleviate upper airway obstruction due to trauma, tumours, swelling, fluids, or secretions resulting in respiratory distress syndrome.
• Thoracotomy:A major surgical procedure where incisions are made between two ribs in order to gain access to the lungs and chest cavity for diagnostic purposes and/or repair of underlying structures which are causing respiratory distress.
• Pleural Decortication:Surgical removal of diseased tissue covering the inner surface layers of the pleura that can cause severe pain and impaired breathing by placing pressure on surrounding tissues resulting in pulmonary distress syndrome.

The best doctor to consult for respiratory distress is a pulmonologist. A pulmonologist specialises in treating the organs of the respiratory system, including the lungs, airways, and other related organs. The pulmonologist can diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions related to breathing, ranging from asthma and COPD to bronchitis and pneumonia.

• Bronchodilators:These medications open up narrowed airways in the lungs and make breathing easier. Examples include albuterol (Ventolin), salmeterol (Advair), formoterol (Foradil), and ipratropium bromide (Atrovent).
• Corticosteroids:These anti-inflammatory medications reduce swelling and mucus in the lungs to help people breathe more easily. Examples include prednisone, fluticasone (Flonase), and budesonide (Pulmicort).
• Antibiotics:These can help fight bacterial infections that may be causing respiratory distress, such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Examples include amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (Augmentin) or doxycycline.
• Mucolytics:These types of medications thin thick mucus that can block the airways in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other conditions, such as cystic fibrosis. Examples include carbocisteine (Mollicute) or acetylcysteine (Mucomyst).
• Antihistamines:These drugs may be helpful in treating allergic reactions, colds, coughs, and sinus problems that cause difficulty breathing due to nasal congestion. Examples include diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or loratadine(Claritin).

Recovery from respiratory distress depends on the cause of the condition and its severity. Generally, mild cases of respiratory distress can resolve within a few days or weeks with proper treatment. More severe cases may require hospitalisation and a longer recovery period, sometimes for several months.

No, the results of treatment for respiratory distress are not permanent. Treatment aims to reduce or alleviate symptoms, but does not eliminate the underlying cause of the condition. Proper management is needed to prevent recurrence and long-term complications from occurring.

• Monitor breathing and administer medications as directed by a healthcare professional.
• Encourage restful sleep and good nutrition to promote wound healing, avoid activities that may further exacerbate respiratory distress, such as heavy lifting or exercise, particularly in the initial weeks of recovery from surgery.
• Prepare the patient for breathing exercises and other clinically appropriate treatments that may help increase the use of their lungs and relieve some symptoms of respiratory distress including chest physiotherapy or postural drainage with percussion and vibration (PDV) therapy, to help loosen secretions from the lungs so they can be coughed up more easily and expelled from the body to improve oxygen exchange rate in blood vessels.
• Monitor for signs of complications such as infection in order to act quickly to seek preventive treatment.

Generally, medications range from around 500-1,500 rupees, diagnostic tests can cost up to 6,000 rupees and simple procedures may cost around 5,000-6,000 rupees. For more complicated treatments such as ventilators or specialised surgeries, expenses can range from tens to even hundreds of thousands of rupees.

Side effects of respiratory distress treatments may include chest pain, coughing, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, fever, and/or headache.

Treatment might also cause shortness of breath due to bronchoconstriction or from stress to the lungs caused by the treatment itself.

Other potential side effects include anxiety and dizziness from medications used in treating the underlying cause of respiratory distress.

If you are suffering from any complications relating to respiratory distress then you should consult a doctor nearby as they can cause complications like 'cardiac arrhythmias, brain damage, pulmonary hypertension ' in which treatment courses can range from a few months to years depending on the severity of the situation.