Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome:
Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
Dr Carolyn Dean is a medical doctor and naturopath. She has authored and co-authored over 35 books
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, commonly referred to as ARDS, is an acute condition that affects the lungs. It most often develops as a complication in patients dealing with an existing serious health condition. Approximately one in three cases of ARDS prove fatal, although the underlying condition is usually the cause of death.
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Cau s e s ARDS is caused primarily by severe inflammation in the lungs, causing them to take in fluid. Conditions that can lead to ARDS include pneumonia, sepsis, severe injuries to the chest, near-drowning, acute pancreatitis, adverse reactions to blood transfusions, and the accidental inhalation of toxic chemicals, smoke or vomit.
T re at me nt s Immediate treatment for ARDS usually involves hooking the patient up to a ventilator and nasogastric tube to help with breathing, as well as treating the underlying condition that has caused it.
Sy m p to m s ARDS most often presents in patients that are already hospitalized for an existing condition, although not in every case. Symptoms include severe shortness of breath, faintness or dizziness, rapid, shallow breathing, and feelings of confusion or excessive drowsiness and tiredness.
Immediate treatment for ARDS usually involves hooking the patient up to a ventilator and nasogastric tube to help with breathing, as well as treating the underlying condition that has caused it.
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Dr Carolyn Dean
You can read about treating coronavirus, which can lead to ARDS, by visiting the blog of Dr. Carolyn Dean.