Acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, is a life-threatening condition that must be recognized and treated immediately in order to save the patient’s life. Therefore, it is important to be able to recognize and respond to the symptoms of ARDS.
Individuals experiencing ARDS may have a cough and a fever (but the fever only generally comes if the ARDS is caused by something like pneumonia). Low blood pressure is common as the heart grows weak. Confusion and exhaustion are further signs of the lack of oxygen inherent with ARDS.