• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Science / What is acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS and what causes it?

What is acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS and what causes it?

May 14, 2020 by Karen Hill

ARDS, which stands for acute respiratory distress syndrome, or sometimes adult respiratory distress syndrome (to distinguish it from a lung problem in newborns), is not a disease itself, but a type of severe acute lung dysfunction that can result from disease or injury, according to the ARDS Support Center, a clearinghouse for information.

The condition stiffens the lungs, fills them with water, and causes shortness of breath from respiratory failure. Inflammation damages microscopic air sacs called alveoli, which collapse, and tiny blood vessels called capillaries, which leak fluid into the lung. The inflammation can cause permanent scarring.

When doctors first became aware of ARDS in World War II, it was invariably fatal, but modern mechanical respirators, delivering extra oxygen, now help many to survive it.

Treatment of the condition can cause its own damage, like oxygen burns, and may leave long-term problems.

Doctors have learned to look for ARDS and treat it in patients who have survived auto accidents or heart surgery or who have illnesses like pneumonia or severe infections like septic shock, but they do not know why some of these patients suffer ARDS and others do not.

Related Facts

  • What do the Distress Letters SOS Stand For and How did the International Distress Signal Originate?
  • Where does Respiratory Syncytial Virus come from and How does RVS cause pneumonia?
  • What Does the Word "Mayday" Mean in French and Where Did the International Distress Signal Come From?
  • What Does an Upside Down Flag Mean and Why Is it Not a Distress Signal At Sea?
  • Why do eyes turn red and swollen after too little sleep and what causes it?
  • Why do we get so sleepy and drowsy after lunch and what causes it?

Filed Under: Science

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « Can foot-and-mouth disease and mad cow disease be spread to humans by dairy products?
Next Post: What evidence do scientists have that mosquitoes don’t spread HIV from person to person? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2021 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy