What causes ARDS?
The most common causes of ARDS are pneumonia, sepsis (an overwhelming infection in the body), aspiration of fumes, food or stomach contents into the lung, and trauma. These conditions cause the body to manufacture substances that may cause inflammation in the lungs. Once inflamed, the alveoli (air sacs) are then unable to perform the normal oxygenation of the blood. New causes of ARDS are continually being reported with more than 60 different causes having been identified to date. Consequently, there is a dire need for continuing research as the medical community has barely scratched the surface in collecting and analyzing the relevant information.
