Who Is At Risk for ARDS?

People at risk for ARDS have a condition or illness that can directly or indirectly injure their lungs.

Direct Lung Injury

Conditions that can directly injure the lungs include:

• Pneumonia. This is an infection in the lungs.
• Breathing in harmful fumes or smoke.
• Inhaling vomited stomach contents from the mouth.
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). This is a type of pneumonia.
• Using a ventilator. This is a machine that helps people breathe, but, rarely, it can injure the lungs.
• Nearly drowning.

Indirect Lung Injury

Conditions that can indirectly injure the lungs include:

• Sepsis. This is a condition in which bacteria infect the bloodstream.
• Severe bleeding due to an injury to the body or having many blood transfusions.
• An injury to the chest or head, like a severe blow.
• Pancreatitis (PAN-kre-a-TI-tis). This is a condition in which the pancreas becomes irritated or infected. The pancreas is a gland that releases enzymes and hormones.
• Fat embolism (EM-bo-lizm). This is a condition in which fat blocks an artery. A physical injury, like a broken bone, can lead to a fat embolism.
• Drug overdose.