Covid 19 and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Diagnosis and Treatment
Dr. Xuanha White, DO talks about COVID-19 Pneumonia and ARDS.

ARDS, or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, refers to a type of lung damage that can be caused by illness, trauma, or as a result of certain medical procedures. It's a potentially fatal condition in which the lungs suffer a serious injury that hurts their ability to provide oxygen to the body's organs. The condition causes fluid to build up in the lungs, which reduces blood oxygen levels to dangerous levels. ARDS is a serious medical issue.

ARDS is always caused by an injury to the lungs, whether from illness or trauma. It can affect people of any age. Approximately 190,000 Americans are diagnosed with ARDS every year. Patients with ARDS need supplemental oxygen and are usually on a mechanical ventilator to breathe. While there is no cure for ARDS, it isn't always fatal. 60% to 75% of people with ARDS survive with treatment.

"We have a substantial amount of experience supporting people with acute respiratory distress syndrome," says Dr. Xuana White, a Pulmonologist and critical care specialist with Integra Health in Temecula, CA. "But it's still a serious issue. Even though we can support the body to let it recover, the lungs still have to start the recovery process. ARDS has no magic bullet treatment.”

How does COVID-19 relate to ARDS?
The virus that causes COVID-19 attaches itself to cells in the upper airways when it enters the body. Inflammation sets off an immune response, leading to symptoms like cough, sore throat, and fever.

Sometimes, the virus gets past the upper airway, moves through the lungs, and ends up in your alveoli. As a result, COVID-19 can lead to ARDS, which usually sets in 8 days after the initial symptoms. ARDS is more likely to develop in people with COVID-19 if they have advanced age, diabetes, or high blood pressure.

What makes Integra Health unique in its treatment of ARDS?
At Integra Health, Dr. Xuanha White is very experienced in the use of evidence-based strategies along with her vast experience from the large amounts of patients she has treated to provide the highest-quality care to ARDS patients.

We combine evidence-based medicine with the experience we've gained from treating a lot of people in and out of the hospital to create a customized treatment plan for each patient. To maintain and improve lung capacity, we use medications.

The medications help with residual inflammation and symptoms like coughing and sputum production that can linger after a COVID infection. Patients are also enrolled in pulmonary rehab programs tailored to COVID recovery. Patients with more advanced disease need continuous monitoring with serial spirometry or PFT's.

If you or a loved one has been affected by COVID 19 and would like to assess your lung health after the infection, contact us at Integra Health for an evaluation with one of our lung specialists. Check out IntegraHealthPC.com to learn more.