Smoke Inhalation

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Smoke inhalation is a condition where you breathe in harmful smoke. Harmful smoke comes from burning materials and gases, and contains small particles that are suspended in hot air. These small particles include chemicals, irritants, or toxins (poisons), such as carbon monoxide and cyanide. With smoke inhalation, the lungs and airways become irritated, inflamed (swollen), and blocked. The damaged airways and lungs prevent oxygen from getting into your blood, and respiratory failure may then develop. Respiratory failure means you cannot breathe well enough to get oxygen to the cells of your body.
  
  
• Smoke inhalation most commonly happens when you get trapped inside a burning structure, such as houses and buildings. Signs and symptoms of smoke inhalation include cough, hoarseness, headache, and trouble breathing. You may also faint (pass out), vomit (throw up), or have problems seeing or thinking clearly. Smoke inhalation can be diagnosed by bronchoscopy, blood tests, chest x-ray, blood gases, or pulmonary function tests. Treatment aims at relieving the signs and symptoms of smoke inhalation. It may include medicines, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, intravenous (IV) fluids, oxygen, and a mechanical ventilator. It is important to follow safety rules and guidelines to prevent smoke inhalation. With proper treatment, you have a greater chance of having a full recovery.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Take your medicine as directed:

Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists.

If you are getting pain medicine as a shot or through an IV, your family should learn how to give it to you. Caregivers will teach them how to give it, as well as how much medicine to give and how often to give it. To avoid side effects and other problems, ask your caregiver before using any over-the-counter medicine, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements. Do not worry about becoming addicted to your pain medicine.

Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.

Respiratory care:

• Breathing exercises: You may feel short of breath when you are active. The following are breathing exercises that may help you breathe more easily:
  
  
  • Breathe out with pursed or puckered lips (like playing the trumpet).
    
    
  • Breathe using your diaphragm. Put one hand on your abdomen and breathe in, causing your hand to move outward or upward. Your lungs will have more room to get bigger and to take in more air.
  
  
• Deep breathing: This exercise should be done once an hour to keep you from getting a lung infection. Deep breathing opens the tubes going to your lungs. Slowly take a deep breath and hold the breath as long as you can. Then let out your breath. Take 10 deep breaths in a row every hour while awake. You may be asked to use an incentive spirometer to help you with this. Put the plastic piece into your mouth and slowly take a breath as deep and as long as you can. Hold your breath as long as you can. Then, let out your breath.
  
  
• Oxygen: You may need extra oxygen to help you breathe easier. It may be given through a plastic mask over your mouth and nose. It may be given through a nasal cannula, or prongs, instead of a mask. A nasal cannula is a pair of short, thin tubes that rest just inside your nose. Tell your caregiver if your nose gets dry or if you get redness or sores on your skin. Never smoke or let anyone else smoke in the same room while your oxygen is on. Doing so may cause a fire.
  
  
• Special positions while sleeping: You may have trouble breathing when lying down. Sleeping in a position with your upper body raised may help you breathe easier. You can use foam wedges or elevate the head of your bed. There are many devices that you can buy to help raise your upper body while in bed. Use a device that will tilt your whole body, or bend your body at the waist. The device should not bend your body at the upper back or neck.

Preventing fires and another smoke inhalation:

• Always check the exhaust of your car and never leave the engine running inside the garage. You should also inspect electrical wiring, chimneys, wood stoves, and space heaters in your house. Use flammable liquids safely and store them in a locked area out of the reach of children.
  
  
• Do not leave lit cigarettes unattended, and discard them properly. Keep cigarette lighters and matches locked in a safe place where children cannot reach them.
  
  
• Keep numbers of the police or fire department where you can easily find them. Know where and how to contact your local poison control center.
  
  
• Make an escape plan in case a fire breaks out in your home. Practice it often with your family.
  
  
• Smoke detectors and water sprinklers should be placed in every room of an occupied building. Use smoke detectors in your house and check them regularly to make sure they are working.
  
  
• When escaping a burning building, crawl to the floor where there is cooler and clearer air to breathe. Hot smoke rises and carries gases upward. Keeping close to the floor may help prevent breathing in as much harmful smoke.

Wellness hints:

• Do not smoke: Smoking causes lung cancer and other long-term lung diseases. It increases your risk of many cancer types. Smoking also increases your risk of blood vessel disease, heart attack, and vision disorders. Not smoking may help prevent such symptoms as headaches and dizziness for yourself and those around you. Smokers have shorter lifespans than nonsmokers.
  
  
• Rest: Rest when you feel it is needed. Slowly start to do more each day. Return to your daily activities as directed.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have a fever.
  
  
• You are lightheaded, dizzy, sweaty, or nauseated after you take your medicine.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about having smoke inhalation, your medicine, or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You are irritable or unusually sleepy, or have problems thinking clearly.
  
  
• You cough up or vomit (throw up) blood.
  
  
• You have a fast heartbeat and your chest hurts.
  
  
• You have trouble breathing all of a sudden.
  
  
• You have weakness, and pale and clammy (sweaty) skin.
  
  
• You have wheezing (a high pitched noise when breathing).
  
  
• Your lips or fingernails turn blue in color.

This is an emergency. Call 911 or 0 (operator) for an ambulance to get to the nearest hospital.

Copyright © 2011. Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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