Living With ARDS
Some people fully recover from ARDS. Others continue
to have health problems. After you go home from the hospital, you may have one
or more of the following problems:
- Shortness of breath. After treatment, lung
function in most people who have ARDS improves within 3 months and is back to
normal within 6 months. For others, it may take up to a year or more. Some
people have breathing problems for the rest of their lives.
- Tiredness and muscle weakness. Being in the
hospital and on a ventilator (a machine that helps you breathe) can cause your
muscles to feel weak. You also may feel very tired following treatment.
- Depression. Many people who've had ARDS say that
they were depressed for a while after treatment.
- Problems with memory and thinking clearly.
Certain medicines and a low oxygen level in your blood can cause these
problems.
These health problems may go away within a few weeks
or they may last longer. Talk to your doctor about how to deal with these
problems. Also, see the suggestions below.
Getting Help
You can take steps to recover from ARDS and improve
your quality of life.
- Ask your family and friends for help with
everyday activities.
- Go to pulmonary rehabilitation (rehab). A rehab
program can show you how to return to normal activities and stay active. Rehab
may include exercise training, education, and counseling. Your rehab team may
include doctors, nurses, and other specialists. They will work with you to
create a program that meets your needs.
- Join a support group for ARDS. The
ARDS Support Center, the
American Lung Association's Better Breathers Clubs, and the
ARDS Foundation are examples of support networks that can help
you learn about and cope with your condition.
- Seek help from a mental health professional if
you feel depressed.
- Don't smoke, and avoid secondhand smoke.
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