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Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome – Treatments and Medications

Normally, people with acute respiratory distress syndrome are already in the intensive care unit of a hospital. Lung inflammation is due to accumulation of fluid in lungs. Diuretics help eliminate such fluid accumulation and open up respiratory blockades.

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Treatments and Medications for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

New York (USA), June 27, 2013

Treatments Options for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Normally, people with acute respiratory distress syndrome are already in the intensive care unit of a hospital. The primary aim in treating acute respiratory distress syndrome is to provide adequate breathing support and cure actual cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Acute respiratory distress syndrome could occur due to inflammation, bacterial infections, or fluid accumulation in lungs. Proper medications cure these symptoms. There is no specific therapy to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Treatment Procedures

Mechanical ventilator breathing support is essential for people with acute respiratory distress syndrome. A breathing machine delivers oxygen in appropriate measure and at continued pressure to your lungs. This helps your respiratory system function as normally as possible. Since your lungs are damaged and unable to pump requisite amount of oxygen, ventilator support is maintained at specific pressure. This is PEEP or positive end expiratory pressure. It is common for acute respiratory distress syndrome patients to be sedated while on ventilator support. Sedating with medications improves chances of lung recovery. This continues until you are able to breathe on your own.

Medications for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

If acute respiratory distress syndrome is due to bacterial infections, antibiotics should be administered in appropriate dosage. If there is inflammation, anti-inflammatory drugs like corticosteroids help reduce lung inflammation. Sometimes sepsis causes septic shock in lungs. Corticosteroids help cure such infection. This septic shock lowers blood pressure and causes breathing problems. Blood pressure drugs improve sepsis situation.

Lung inflammation is due to accumulation of fluid in lungs. Diuretics help eliminate such fluid accumulation and open up respiratory blockades.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome also leads to certain mental health problems. You suffer from anxiety, depression, poor memory, and other cognitive problems. Anti-anxiety drugs help relieve anxiety and related mental health problems.

You will be given nutrients and fluids through a feeding tube or an IV tube. Fluid balance will be monitored to maintain adequate balance to prevent dehydration and at the same time, fluid should not accumulate within lungs.

Follow-up Processes

Acute respiratory distress syndrome symptoms cannot be cured immediately. You require a prolonged period of rehabilitation for respiratory problems, mental health, and muscle weakness. Once you are discharged from hospital, go for regular follow-ups with your doctors, assess lung functions, and check your progress.

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