How Serious Is Being Put on a Ventilator?
Infection Is One Potential Risk Associated with Being on a Ventilator; the Breathing Tube in the Airway Can Allow Bacteria to Enter the Lungs, Which Can Lead...
Infection is one potential risk associated with being on a ventilator; the breathing tube in the airway can allow bacteria to enter the lungs, which can lead to pneumonia. A ventilator can also damage the lungs, either from too much pressure or excessive oxygen levels, which can be toxic to the lungs.
Why might you be placed on a ventilator to treat COVID-19?
When your lungs inhale and exhale air normally, they take in oxygen your cells need to survive and expel carbon dioxide. COVID-19 can inflame your airways and essentially drown your lungs in fluids.
A ventilator mechanically helps pump oxygen into your body.
What is the recovery time for patients with severe COVID-19 that require oxygen?
For the 15% of infected individuals who develop moderate to severe COVID-19 and are admitted to the hospital for a few days and require oxygen, the average recovery time ranges between three to six weeks.
Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.
