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Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome - Risk Factors - Risk Factors

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You may have an increased risk of ARDS because of infection, environmental exposures, lifestyle habits, genetic genetic (jeh-NEH-tik):
Having to do with genes. Most genes are sequences of DNA that contain information for making specific proteins or molecules of RNA that perform important functions in a cell. The information in genes is passed from parents to children. , other medical conditions or procedures, race, or sex. Risk factors can vary depending on your age, overall health, where you live, and the healthcare setting in which you receive care.

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\n Infection \n
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome - Risk Factors

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Infections are the most common risk factors for ARDS. These may include:

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  • Flu or other virus virus (VY-rus):
    A microbe that infects cells and may cause disease. Viruses can multiply only when they are inside a host cell, so they are not considered living organisms.     ,     such as respiratory syncytial virus and SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. Watch this video to learn more about how COVID-19 affects the lungs. Additionally, we offer information and resources on how we are working hard to support necessary COVID-19 research. 
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  • Pneumonia
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  • Sepsis Sepsis (SEP-sis):
    A serious illness that results when the body has an overwhelming immune response to a bacterial infection. This response triggers the release of chemicals into the blood stream, which triggers inflammation to fight infection. The inflammation can damage organs and their systems.     ,     a condition in which bacteria bacteria (bak-TEER-ee-uh):
    Living organisms that have only one cell. Most bacteria are harmless; however, some types of bacteria cause infections and disease in people. When bacteria cause infections or disease, doctors prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection. The singular form of \u201cbacteria\u201d is \u201cbacterium.\u201d     infect the bloodstream
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  • Uterine infection in the mother, affecting a newborn\u2019s lungs
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\n Environment \n
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome - Risk Factors

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Being exposed to air pollution for weeks or months can make you more vulnerable to ARDS.

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\n Lifestyle habits \n
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome - Risk Factors

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Habits that harm the health of your lungs increase your risk of ARDS. These include:

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  • Heavy alcohol use
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  • Overdose of illegal drugs
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  • Smoking
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\n Family history and genetics \n
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome - Risk Factors

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The genes you inherit may put you at an increased risk for ARDS. These genes play a role in how the lungs respond to damage.

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\n Other medical conditions or procedures \n
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome - Risk Factors

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Other medical conditions, injuries, or medical procedures can raise your risk for ARDS. These may include:

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  • Blood transfusions
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  • Fat embolism, in which a clot of fat blocks an arteries artery (ARR-tuh-ree):
    A blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the organs. Most arteries carry oxygenated blood. The pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood away from the heart to the lungs.     . A physical injury, such as a broken bone, can lead to a fat embolism.
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  • Hemorrhagic shock
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  • Inhaling vomit, smoke, chemical fumes, or water during a near drowning
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  • Injury, such as from a blow or burns
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  • Lung injury from being on a ventilator
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  • Lung or heart surgery, or being placed on a heart-lung bypass machine
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  • Newborn lung conditions, which can raise the risk of your baby having neonatal ARDS. These include pneumonia and a condition where the unborn baby passes stool while still in the womb, and the stool is then inhaled into his or her lungs. Your baby is also at higher risk if he or she did not get enough oxygen during delivery.
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  • Pancreatitis, a condition in which the pancreas becomes infected. The pancreas is a gland that releases enzymes enzyme (EN-zime):
    A protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the body.     and hormone hormone (HOR-moan):
    Substance made in glands throughout the body. Hormones are released into the blood to travel throughout the body to control other body functions.     .
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  • pulmonary vasculitis
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  • Reaction to medicine, such as those used to treat cancer or arrhythmia
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\n Race or ethnicity \n
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome - Risk Factors

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The risk of developing ARDS is higher among nonwhite groups.

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\n Sex \n
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome - Risk Factors

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Among children, boys are at a higher risk of ARDS than girls are.

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Learn more about how ARDS in newborns is different from respiratory distress syndrome, a similar breathing condition that also affects newborns.

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\n Read more \n
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Both ARDS and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) are breathing disorders that affect newborns. They have some similar risk factors and signs. However, the causes of the conditions are different. RDS occurs most often in preterm babies whose lungs are not fully developed. In ARDS, the newborn\u2019s lungs are fully developed, but damage from an injury, infection, or inflammation causes the lungs to stop working well.

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Visit our Respiratory Distress Syndrome Health Topic to learn more.

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Syndicated Content Details:
Source URL: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/subscribe/3814
Source Agency: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Captured Date: 2019-09-17 18:13:00.0
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