In this Article

• What is ARDS?
• How do the lungs work?
• What are other names for ARDS?
• What causes ARDS?
• Who is at risk for ARDS?
• What are the signs and symptoms of ARDS?
• How is ARDS diagnosed?
• How is ARDS treated?
• Recovering from ARDS
• What are the complications of ARDS?
• Information for family and friends
• Key Points About ARDS
• ARDS Glossary
• ARDS Index

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

• Nearly drowning

• Some drug overdoses

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of ARDS?

The major signs and symptoms of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are:

• Shortness of breath

• Fast, labored breathing

• 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.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

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