overview
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) occurs when fluid builds up in the tiny, elastic airbags (alveoli) in your lungs. The fluid prevents your lungs from filling up with air, which means less oxygen gets into your bloodstream. This robs your organs of the oxygen they need to function.
ARDS usually occurs in people who are already seriously ill or have serious injuries. Severe shortness of breath – the main symptom of ARDS – usually occurs within hours to days of the injury or the infection that caused it.
Many people who develop ARDS do not survive. The risk of death increases with age and the severity of the disease. Of those who survive ARDS, some make a full recovery while others experience permanent damage to their lungs. Acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS Treatment in Khammam
symptoms
The signs and symptoms of ARDS can vary in intensity depending on the cause and severity, as well as the presence of an underlying heart or lung disease. They include:
- Severe breathlessness
- Laborious and unusually fast breathing
- Low blood pressure
- Confusion and extreme fatigue
The reasons
Bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli
Bronchioles and Alveoli Open the popup dialog
The mechanical cause of ARDS is the fluid that drains from the smallest blood vessels in the lungs into the tiny air sacs in which the blood is enriched with oxygen. Usually a protective membrane keeps this liquid in the vessels. However, serious illness or injury can damage the membrane and cause fluid to leak out of the ARDS.
The underlying causes of ARDS are:
- Sepsis. The most common cause of ARDS is sepsis, a serious and widespread infection of the bloodstream.
- Inhalation of pollutants. Inhaling high concentrations of smoke or chemical fumes can cause ARDS, as can inhaling (aspirating) vomiting or near-drowning episodes.
- Severe pneumonia. Severe cases of pneumonia usually affect all five lobes of the lungs.
- Head, chest or other serious injuries. Accidents like falls or car crashes can directly damage the lungs or the part of the brain that controls breathing.
Risk factors
Most people who develop ARDS are already hospitalized for another condition, and many are seriously ill. You are particularly at risk if you have a widespread infection in your bloodstream (sepsis).
People with a history of chronic alcoholism are at higher risk of developing ARDS. They are also more likely to die from ARDS. Acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS Treatment in Khammam