What's acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)?
Acute means sudden, and respiratory has to do with breathing. So acute respiratory distress syndrome is when you have sudden difficulty with your breathing.
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ARDS is a certain kind of severe breathing problem when your lungs fill up with fluid
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ARDS causes low oxygen levels in your blood
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Many diseases that injure your lungs can cause ARDS
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You feel short of breath and your lips and/or skin turn blue
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Without treatment, ARDS is often fatal
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You will need extra oxygen and sometimes a ventilator Ventilators Ventilation is the same thing as breathing. It's the movement of air into and out of your lungs. Sometimes your breathing needs to be assisted by a ventilator. A ventilator is a machine that... read more (breathing machine)
What causes ARDS?
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Lung problems: Pneumonia Pneumonia Pneumonia is an infection deep in your lungs. The infection involves the small air sacs in your lungs (alveoli). Pneumonia is different from infection of the air passages (bronchi) in your lungs... read more , choking on food (aspiration), smoke inhalation (like from a fire)
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Other organ problems: Heart failure Heart Failure Your heart pumps blood to carry oxygen and nutrients to the rest of your body. Heart failure is when your heart doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. It doesn’t mean your heart has stopped... read more , pancreatitis Acute Pancreatitis Pancreatitis is inflammation (swelling) of your pancreas. Your pancreas is an organ in your upper belly that makes juices that help you digest food. Your pancreas also makes insulin, which helps... read more
Some of the diseases that cause ARDS can also damage other organs besides your lungs. You may have problems with your kidneys, heart, liver, or brain.
How do doctors know I have ARDS?
How do doctors treat ARDS?
You'll need to be in an intensive care unit (ICU). An ICU is an area in the hospital for people who are seriously ill. Doctors will treat the problem that caused ARDS and:
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Give you extra oxygen
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Sometimes put you on a ventilator Ventilators Ventilation is the same thing as breathing. It's the movement of air into and out of your lungs. Sometimes your breathing needs to be assisted by a ventilator. A ventilator is a machine that... read more or noninvasive ventilation Ventilators Ventilation is the same thing as breathing. It's the movement of air into and out of your lungs. Sometimes your breathing needs to be assisted by a ventilator. A ventilator is a machine that... read more using a special mask
