What Is the Most Common Cause of ARDS?

Medically Reviewed on2/1/2022
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is dangerous lung damage
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is dangerous lung damage.

Sepsis(severe systemic infection) is the most common cause ofacute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).

ARDS是由于流体泄漏小造成的lung vessels into the lung air sacs (alveoli). It causes difficulty inbreathingand severe falls in oxygen in the body.

ARDS commonly occur due to lung injuries:

  • Majortraumaandburninjuries may directly damage thelungsand inflame them
  • Head, chest, or other major injuries
  • Sepsis(a life-threatening condition when chemicals are released into the bloodstream by your immune system to fight off infection)
  • Burns
  • Pneumonitis (swelling of the air sacs as a reaction to several agents)
  • Injury to the head, chest, or other organs of your body
  • Massive blood transfusions
  • Pancreatitis(severe inflammation of the pancreas)
  • Neardrowning
  • Aspiration (breathing food into your lungs)
  • Viral infections such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),herpessimplex virus (HSV), andcytomegalovirus(CMV)
  • Breathing in harmful things, chemical fumes, and smoke
  • Drug overdoses such ascocaineand opioid
  • Medication side effect

Your risk of ARDS may increase if you have

  • Advanced age.
  • A history of tobacco use.
  • A history ofalcoholuse.
  • Chronic lung disease and are using oxygen.
  • Undergone high-risk surgery recently.
  • Undergone chemotherapy.
  • Excessive weight.

What are the chances of surviving ARDS?

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is dangerous lung damage that allows fluid to leak into the lung air sacs (alveoli). This hampers the oxygen transfer process at the lung level. The body organs such as the kidney and brain stop working. The person will experience severe breathing difficulties, which will require immediate artificial oxygen support to help them breathe. It is an emergency condition and requires immediate medical attention.

It commonly occurs in critically ill people who are hospitalized for an injury or severe illnesses such as

It can worsen quickly, usually developing within a few hours to a few days of the injury or infection.Chances of survival in people who develop ARDS depend on the age and severity of their co-existing medical issues.However, with time, treatments are improving, and more people survive ARDS now than they did in the past. Although many survive, there may be some lung damage in many individuals.

  • Fast diagnosis and treatment in ARDS are very important for the survival of patients.

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What are the symptoms of ARDS?

If you have acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), your symptom may vary in intensity, depending on its cause and severity, as well as the presence of an underlyingheartor lung disease.

What are the complications?

Complications include:
  • Blood clots
  • Pneumothorax(collapsed lung)
  • Infections due to tubes inserted into your windpipe
  • Pulmonary fibrosis(scarring and thickening of the tissue between the air sacs that stiffen your lungs, making it even more difficult for oxygen)
  • Breathing problems
  • Depression
  • Problems with memory and thinking clearly
  • Tiredness and muscleweakness
Medically Reviewed on2/1/2022
References
WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/lung/ards-acute-respiratory-distress-syndrome

Medscape: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/165139-overview

国家卫生研究院:https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/acute-respiratory-distress-syndrome

NIH: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK436002/

American Lung Association https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/ards

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/ards/learn-about-ards

Cleveland clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15283-acute-respiratory-distress-syndrome-ards

Mayoclinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ards/symptoms-causes/syc-20355576