ARDS (cont.)
Who is At Risk for ARDS?
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) usually affects people who are
being treated for another serious illness or those who have had major injuries.
It affects about 150,000 people each year in the United States. ARDS can occur
in people with or without a previous lung disease. People who have a serious
accident with a large blood loss are more likely to develop ARDS. However, only
a small portion of people who have problems that can lead to ARDS actually
develop it.
In most cases, a person who develops ARDS is already in
the hospital being
treated for other medical problems. Some illnesses or injuries that can lead to
ARDS include:
- Serious, widespread infection in the body (sepsis)
- Severe injury (trauma) and shock
from a car crash, fire, or other cause
- Severe bleeding that requires blood transfusions
- Severe pneumonia (infection of the lungs)
- Breathing in vomited stomach contents
- Breathing in smoke or harmful gases and fumes
- Injury to the chest from trauma (such as a car
accident) that causes bruising of the lungs
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of ARDS?
The major signs and symptoms of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
are:
- A bluish skin color (due to a low level of oxygen in
the blood)
- A lower amount of oxygen in the blood
Doctors and other health care providers watch for these signs and symptoms in
patients who have conditions that might lead to ARDS. People who develop ARDS
may be too sick to complain about having trouble breathing or other related
symptoms. If a patient shows signs of developing ARDS, doctors will do tests to
confirm that ARDS is the problem.
ARDS is often associated with the failure of other organs
and body systems, including the liver, kidneys, and the immune system. Multiple organ failure
often leads to death.
Next: How is ARDS diagnosed? »
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