Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome – Treatment, Symptoms, Causes
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is a life-threatening disease which causes sudden breathlessness and non-functioning of lungs. The disease is considered as one of the most crucial lungs disease and often continues from 2 hours to 48 hours even more than that. It can cause the death of a patient due to prolong illness and unable to breathing problems. The medical reports suggest development of patchy spots on the X- Ray of Chest. It is different from the normal lungs disease, and that is why it has been named Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome to justify the nature of immediate of the disease.
Definition of ARDS
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is a lung disease developed due to drug overdose or damage to blood vessels primarily. The lungs remain incapable of filling with air and pump oxygen into bloodstreams under the influence of this disease. The damage of the lung can be minor and can be cured; however it can become a major fatal health concern if not addressed properly.
Symptoms of ARDS
The symptoms of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome are sudden and quick. The patient gets hardly any time to analyse the situation. The most common symptom of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is breathlessness. The patient would feel the lack of air, and soon it results in rapid heartbeat, lack of oxygen in the blood, nervousness, anxiety and tiredness. Major form of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome can cause multiorgan failure and at the same time, it can threaten the patient’s life. According to medical researches and study, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome has been considered as the Medical Emergency. The sudden attack on lungs makes it even more critical and chronic. Any of the symptoms should be immediately taken care of, and patient should be rushed to the hospital. Any breathing issue should be sincerely and properly addressed as it can be Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
Causes of ARDS
The typical causes of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome are damage in blood vessels and drug overdose. The disease pops up when the blood vessel gets severely damaged, and lungs do not get enough oxygen and cannot fill the adequate air. The damage can even occur in the small blood vessels in Lungs. The sepsis, traumatic injury and severe injury to chest or pain can also cause Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. The reasons for this disease are breathing poisonous smoke and aspiration. Drowning can also cause the disease and disease like Pneumonia can make it even worse. Lungs infection can also lead to the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
Apart from infection related bacteria or sepsis, high drug overdose, and frequent blood transfusion can also lead to this disease. However, many instances have been noticed where heart or lung surgery could also cause the disease. One should always consult a doctor before taking up any drug through medicine as overdose can become fatal if it causes the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
Treatment of ARDS
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is an emergency condition for the patient and immediate medical attention is required. According to the medical experts, the patient does not get enough oxygen in case of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. The patient should be moved to the hospital without any delay. Doctors may advice external oxygen supply with oxygen mask from the oxygen cylinder. However, in intense and critical situation, patient might be put in Life Support System to help breathing.
Treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome first focuses on stabling the patient to breath. The damage of the blood vessel gets addressed once the patient begins breathing normally. For the drug overdose, doctors might use anti-drugs to reduce the impact and heal the lungs with medication. The treatment might take time and patient is released only after lungs starts working normally.
