Signs and symptoms of respiratory failure

Condition analysis:
Patients may be lethargic, irritable, anxious, or unable to concentrate. Children with respiratory distress commonly sit up and lean forward to improve leverage for the accessory muscles and to allow for easy diaphragmatic movement. Children with epiglottitis sit upright with their neck extended and head forward while drooling and breathing through their mouth.

The respiratory rate and quality can provide diagnostic information, as exemplified by the following:
Bradypnea: Most often observed in central control abnormalities
Tachypnea: Fast and shallow breathing is most efficient in intrathoracic airway obstruction; it decreases dynamic compliance of the lung

The patient should also be evaluated for the following:
Stridor (an inspiratory sound)
Wheezing (an expiratory sound)
Crackles
Decreased breath sounds (eg, alveolar consolidation, pleural effusion)
Paradoxical movement of the chest wall
Accessory muscle use and nasal flaring

Instructions:
Nuts and Seeds: Nuts and seeds provide healthy, unsaturated fats and valuable nutrients, including the antioxidant vitamin E. The oil present in nuts and seeds may help reduce mucus production, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, UMMC. For heightened benefits, replace saturated fat sources, such as butter and margarine, in your diet with almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and flaxseed. Adding nuts, seeds and nut butters, such as almond and peanut butter, to your meals and snacks can help you maintain proper caloric intake and prevent undue weight loss, which is important particularly if lung problems have caused reduced appetite.

Cold-Water Fish: Cold-water fish are valuable sources of protein, which promotes tissue repair and physical strength important for recovery, and omega-3 fatty acids. The UMMC recommends fish as a healthy alternative to red meat and regular omega-3 fat consumption for improved immune function and reduced inflammation. Fish particularly high in omega-3 fats include salmon, albacore tuna, herring, lake trout, flounder, sardines, mackerel and halibut. For best results, use low-fat cooking methods, such as baking, broiling, steaming and grilling atop nonstick cooking spray or olive oil.