Risk Factors - Respiratory Failure - Risk Factors

You may have an increased risk of respiratory failure because of your age, environment or occupation, lifestyle habits, and other medical conditions or medicines and procedures.

Age

Premature babies who have neonatal respiratory distress due to an under-developed lung, pulmonary hypertension, or certain lung birth defects have a higher risk of respiratory failure. Older adults have more risk factors for respiratory failure. It is more likely that food will accidentally go down the windpipe instead of the food pipe or that a cold will lead to a severe chest infection. Older adults are also more likely to have muscle weakness that can affect breathing.

Environment or occupation

Breathing in lung irritants can lead to lung damage over the long term and put you at risk of serious lung diseases. You may breathe in these irritants from the air where you live or work.

Lung irritants include air pollution, chemical fumes, asbestos, aniline dyes and paints, dust, and secondhand smoke (smoke in the air from other people smoking).

Other medical conditions

You may have a greater risk of respiratory failure if you have certain medical conditions or injuries.

Nerve and muscle disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and myasthenia gravis. A stroke can also affect the area of the brain that controls breathing.
Lung and airways diseases, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, COPD, and interstitial lung diseases. Fluid buildup in the lungs or pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in your lungs) can also lead to respiratory failure.
Infections in your brain or spinal cord (such as meningitis), lungs (such as pneumonia), or airways (such as bronchiolitis).
Airway blockages, such as when food or another object gets stuck in your airways or your epiglottis swells. Your epiglottis is the flap at the back of your throat that prevents food or drink from getting into your airways when you swallow. During obstructive sleep apnea, your upper airway becomes blocked repeatedly during sleep, reducing or completely stopping airflow.
Chest or back injuries that damage your ribs or lungs.
Severe scoliosis, a condition in which the spine is curved from side-to-side.
Severe allergies to food or medicine can cause your throat to swell up.

Many other serious health conditions can also raise your risk. This includes coronary heart disease, kidney or liver disease, or a weakened immune system.

Lifestyle habits

Smoking can cause lung diseases that raise your risk of respiratory failure.

Using drugs or alcohol raises your risk of an overdose. A drug or alcohol overdose affects the area of the brain that controls breathing. During an overdose, breathing becomes slow and shallow, and this can cause acute respiratory failure. This can happen from using illegal drugs or misusing prescription opioid painkillers.

Medicines or medical procedures

Certain sedatives used during surgery affect your breathing. This can put you at risk of respiratory failure, especially if you have other risk factors.

Complications from major surgery can also raise your risk of respiratory failure.