“For an asthma attack, you should use your medications as prescribed. If you notice worsening of your symptoms, talk to your doctor about whether or not your medications can be optimized. Understand what triggers can worsen your asthma and try to avoid them. It is important to have an asthma ‘action plan’ and know where to go according to how bad your symptoms are [office vs. emergency room].
With allergic reactions, you need to understand that any medication or substance can potentially cause a severe allergic reaction. Know the signs of a severe allergic reaction. If you have a history of severe allergic reaction, ask your doctor about an EpiPen in case of emergency. Seek help earlier rather than later because allergic reactions can rapidly progress.”
-Dr. Irena Liang, primary care physician at Primary Care & Convenient Care - Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Group - The Woodlands, Texas
An increase in the number of breaths per minute may indicate that a person is having trouble breathing or not getting enough oxygen. The breathing rate is decided by counting the number of times the chest rises and falls within a minute.
Color Changes
A bluish color seen on the skin around the mouth, on the inside of the lips, or on the fingernails may occur when a person is not getting as much oxygen as needed. The color of the skin may also appear pale or gray.
Grunting
A grunting sound can be heard each time the person exhales. This grunting is the body’s way of getting more air into the lungs than from a normal breath.
Nose Flaring
The openings of the nose spreading open while breathing may indicate that a person is having to work harder to breathe.
Retractions
The chest appears to sink in just below the neck, under the breastbone and ribs, and/or between each rib with each breath – one way of trying to bring more air into the lungs.
Sweating
There may be sweat on the head, but the skin does not feel warm to the touch. Often the skin may feel cool or clammy. This may happen when the breathing rate is very fast.
Wheezing
A tight, whistling or musical sound heard with each breath, mainly when breathing out, may mean that the air passages may be smaller, making it more difficult to breathe.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome [ARDS] is a life-threatening condition where the lungs cannot provide the body's vital organs with enough oxygen.
It's usually a complication of a serious existing health condition. This means most people are already in hospital by the time they develop ARDS.
Symptoms of ARDS
Symptoms of ARDS can include:
- severe shortness of breath
- rapid, shallow breathing
- tiredness, drowsiness or confusion
- feeling faint
When to get urgent medical help
Although most people get ARDS when they're already in hospital, this is not always the case. It can start quickly as a result of an infection, such as pneumonia, or if someone accidentally inhales their vomit.
Call 999 immediately to ask for an ambulance if a child or adult is having breathing problems.
What causes ARDS?
ARDS happens when the lungs become severely inflamed from an infection or injury. The inflammation causes fluid from nearby blood vessels to leak into the tiny air sacs in your lungs, making breathing increasingly difficult.
The lungs can become inflamed after:
- pneumonia or severe flu
- sepsis
- a severe chest injury
- accidentally inhaling vomit, smoke or toxic chemicals
- near drowning
- acute pancreatitis – a serious condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed over a short time
- an adverse reaction to a blood transfusion
Diagnosing ARDS
There's no specific test to diagnose ARDS. A full assessment is needed to identify the underlying cause and rule out other conditions.
The assessment is likely to include:
- a physical examination
- blood tests to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood and check for an infection
- a pulse oximetry test, where a sensor attached to your fingertip, ear or toe is used to measure how much oxygen your blood is absorbing
- a chest X-ray and a CT scan to look for evidence of ARDS
- an echocardiogram – a type of ultrasound scan that's used to look at your heart and nearby blood vessels
Treating ARDS
If you develop ARDS, you'll probably be admitted to an intensive care unit [ICU] and use a breathing machine [ventilator] to help your breathing.
You breathe through a mask attached to the machine. If your breathing is severely affected, a breathing tube may be inserted down your throat and into your lungs.
Fluids and nutrients will be supplied through a feeding tube [nasogastric tube] that's passed through your nose and into your stomach.
The underlying cause of ARDS should also be treated. For example, if it's caused by a bacterial infection, you may need antibiotics.
How long you'll need to stay in hospital depends on your individual circumstances and the cause of ARDS. Most people respond well to treatment, but it may be several weeks or months before you're well enough to leave hospital.
Complications of ARDS
Because ARDS is often caused by a serious health condition, about 1 in 3 people who get it will die. But most deaths are the result of the underlying illness, rather than ARDS itself.
For those who survive, the main complications are linked with nerve and muscle damage, which causes pain and weakness.
Some people also develop psychological problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] and depression.