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.
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