Fluid leaks from small blood vessels and collects in tiny air sacs in your lungs so they can’t fill with enough air. Because of this, your blood can’t pick up the oxygen it needs to carry to the rest of your body. Organs such as your kidneys or brain might not work the way they should or might shut down.
ARDS is sometimes life-threatening and can get worse quickly. But it’s generally treatable, and most people recover. Fast diagnosis and treatment are important
ARDS Symptoms
ARDS puts a lot of strain on your lungs. Symptoms include:
Blue-tinted lips or nails from lack of oxygen in your blood
Dizziness
ARDS Treatment
Treatment aims to get the oxygen levels in your blood up to where they should be, so your organs get what they need. In some cases, your doctor might give you an air mask and later go to a breathing tube and ventilator (a machine that helps you breathe).
Your doctor will also treat other conditions that might be causing ARDS.
Treatments include:
Nutrition and medicine through fluids injected into your blood
Medication to keep you calm and comfortableMost ARDS treatment is done in a hospital’s intensive care unit. Many people have a full recovery with no long-term problems
ARDS Diagnosis and Tests
No single test can identify ARDS. It’s more of a puzzle that your doctor pieces together. They’ll want to rule out conditions that can have similar symptoms.
Your doctor will ask about your medical history, do a physical exam, and listen to your breathing and your heartbeat. They may also look for:
Imaging tests. A chest X-ray is crucial and probably the first test your doctor will order. You might also have a CT scan. These can give your doctor an idea of how much fluid is in your lungs and where it is.
Blood tests. These check your oxygen level. They can also look for signs of infection or anemia, a lack of red blood cells.
Heart tests. These can rule out conditions such as heart failure (when your heart doesn’t pump blood through your body the way it should).
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