Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) What is acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)? Acute respiratory distress
syndrome (ARDS) is a lung problem. It happens when fluid builds
up in the lungs, causing breathing failure and low oxygen levels
in the blood. ARDS is life-threatening, because it keeps organs
like the brain and kidneys from getting the oxygen they need to
work. ARDS occurs most often in people who are being treated for
another serious illness or injury. Most of the time, people who
get ARDS are already in the hospital for another reason. About
40% of people (4 out of 10) who get ARDS don't survive it. That
means that 60% of people (6 out of 10) survive. What causes
ARDS? ARDS can be caused by many things, including: What are the
symptoms? ARDS can develop quickly. The main symptoms are severe
shortness of breath and rapid breathing. How is ARDS diagnosed?
Your doctor will diagnose ARDS based on a medical and physical
exam and other tests. An arterial blood gas test may be done to
check ox