Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Causes & Risks

Causes

ARDS can be caused by many types of injuries, including:

• Direct injury to the lungs:
  • Chest trauma, such as a heavy blow
  • Aspiration of stomach contents
  • Obstructed airways
  • High attitude disease
  • Tuberculosis
  • Oxygen toxicity
  • Radiation
  • Cardiopulmonary bypass
  • Breathing smoke, chemicals, or salt water
  • Burns
• Indirect injury to the lungs:
  • Severe infection
  • Massive blood transfusion
  • Pneumonia
  • Shock
  • Burn
  • Head trauma
  • Severe inflammation of the pancreas ( pancreatitis )
  • Overdoses of alcohol or certain drugs (eg, aspirin, cocaine, opioids, phenothiazines, and tricyclic antidepressants)

ARDS may occur within few days of a lung or bone marrow transplantation.

Risk Factors

ARDS develops most often in people who are being treated for the conditions listed above. Very few who have these issues will go on to develop ARDS.

Factors that may increase your risk of ARDS include:

• Cigarette smoking
• Chronic lung disease
• Age over 65