Respiratory Failure: Tests
Respiratory failure is a condition in which not enough oxygen passes from your lungs into your blood.
Part of: Respiratory Failure
Diagnosis of Respiratory Failure
Your doctor will diagnose respiratory failure based on your medical history, a physical exam, and test results. Once respiratory failure is diagnosed, your doctor will look for its underlying cause.
Medical History
Your doctor will ask whether you might have or have recently had diseases or conditions that could lead to respiratory failure.
Examples include disorders that affect the muscles, nerves, bones, or tissues that support breathing. Lung diseases and conditions also can cause respiratory failure.
For more information, go to “What Causes Respiratory Failure?”
Physical Exam
During the physical exam, your doctor will look for signs of respiratory failure and its underlying cause.
Respiratory failure can cause shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and air hunger (feeling like you can’t breathe in enough air). Using a stethoscope, your doctor can listen to your lungs for abnormal sounds, such… Read more about Respiratory Failure: Tests