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Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Other Names for this Disease
- Acute lung injury
- Adult respiratory distress syndrome
- ALI
- ARDS
- Increased-permeability pulmonary edema
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Overview
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening lung condition that prevents enough oxygen from getting to the lungs and into the blood. [1] People who develop ARDS often are very ill with another disease or have major injuries.[2] The condition leads to a buildup of fluid in the air sacs which prevents enough oxygen from passing into the bloodstream. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, low blood pressure and organ failure, rapid breathing and shortness of breath.[1]
References
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome. MedlinePlus. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000103.htm. Accessed May 17, 2012.
- What is ARDS?. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ards/. Accessed May 17, 2012.
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General Information
- MedlinePlus, a Web site designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, provides more information about this topic. Click on the link to view this information.
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- The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) provides leadership for a national program in diseases of the heart, blood vessels, lung, and blood; blood resources; and sleep disorders. Since October 1997, the NHLBI has also had administrative responsibility for the NIH Woman's Health Initiative. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
- PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Acute respiratory distress syndrome. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.