Organization Fights to Publicize Syndrome that Kills 75,000 Americans Each Year
The ARDS Foundation is hosting their third annual 'March for Miracles' benefit to raise funds for education, medical research and public awareness of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) at the Chicago Botanic Gardens on Aug. 13, 2005. Also on Aug. 13, 2005, the ARDS Foundation is offering their first ARDS mini-conference at the Deerfield Hyatt beginning at 4 p.m. Speakers will address medical issues of importance to those in the ARDS Community. Though little know, ARDS kills more Americans each year than breast cancer and AIDS.
(PRWEB) August 2, 2005 -- On Saturday, Aug. 13, 2005, the ARDS Foundation
will host its 3rd annual “March for Miracles” benefit at the Chicago Botanic
Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL.
Events will include a light
breakfast before the walk/run, face painting, temporary tattoos, and the
camaraderie of those touched by ARDS. Proceeds from the event will be used to
promote public awareness, for education and for medical research into Acute
Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Over the past three years, this event has
raised more than $40,000. Registration for this year’s march will begin at 7:30
a.m. http://ardsusa.org/marchformiracles2005.htm
Cost for
the event is $15 for an individual and $30 for a family.
Also, beginning
at 4 p.m. on Aug. 13, 2005, the ARDS Foundation is hosting their first ARDS
Mini-Conference. Speakers include G. R. Scott Budinger, M.D., Michael Moore,
M.D., and H. Steven Sadowsky, PT, RRT, MS, CCS, all from Feinberg School of
Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Also speaking will be ARDS Survivor,
Pastor Jack Yonts, who will address issues of prayer, grief and spirituality in
relation to ARDS.
http://ardsusa.org/mini-conference.htm
ARDS is a
life-threatening condition that leads to a dangerous loss in the functioning of
the lungs. Although there are more than 60 distressed conditions that can bring
on ARDS, the most common 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.
There are approximately
150,000 reported cases of ARDS per year. Yet because ARDS is often linked with
other distressed conditions, it is believed that the actual number of cases per
year is significantly higher.
ARDS is particularly complicated because no
patient enters the hospital with ARDS as their admitting diagnosis. However,
almost anyone who is admitted to a hospital is at risk to develop ARDS.
More than 75,000 Americans will die this year from Acute Respiratory
Distress Syndrome. ARDS kills more Americans each year than breast cancer and
AIDS.
Ten years ago, ARDS suddenly changed the life of then 33-year-old
attorney, Eileen Rubin Zacharias.
“After I spent four weeks in a coma
and eight weeks on a ventilator, I committed myself to increasing awareness
about this devastating syndrome,” said Zacharias, ARDS Foundation President.
“Over the past five years, we have been working passionately to find ways to
raise money that will lead to increased medical knowledge that can be used to
fight ARDS. But it is essential to educate the ARDS Community as well, and with
this mini-conference, we will be able to bring experts to educate.”
Paula Blonski, who lost her sister, Marybeth, a nurse, at the age of
thirty-six, said, “ARDS seriously lacks public awareness, and as a result, ARDS
research is severely under funded,” said Blonski, Vice President of the ARDS
Foundation. “While the ARDS Foundation has been able to offer their first grant
in partnership with the American Thoracic Society, we are dedicated to doing
more. " Paula emphasizes, "We can only begin to make a difference by expanding
education, awareness and governance initiatives that will empower individuals to
promote early diagnoses and successful treatment of ARDS.”
To learn more
about ARDS and the ARDS Foundation, please visit www.ardsusa.org or call
1.312.749.7047.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/8/prweb267621.htm