My grandma has been in and out of the hospital for the past year or so and they have never been able to tell us what's wrong. She got out of the hospital a few days ago and was quickly re admitted due to a mild heart attack. She is now on a ventilator and unable to breath on her own. I am trying to figure out why this would happen? What could cause her not to be able to breath on her own?

I would jjust ask the doctors but she is in a different city then I am and I am unable to get there at the moment. Any insight would be great thx.

With congestive heart failure, the heart is not able to pump enough blood through the body to keep it oxygenated. She needs a higher concentration of oxygen with each breath to keep all systems working.

Situations like this are why EVERYONE needs to have a living will.

maybe she can breath on her own, but not enough. my grandma had congestive heart failiure and her body was so swollen from it so she couldnt breathe.