Can smoke lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome?

Not Directly: Only with significant/severe smoke inhalation can ARDS and respiratory failure result. The majority of the time smoke inhalation is an irritant and causes cough, shortness of breath and wheezing.

Risk factor: Acute respiratory distress syndrome ARDS isform of lung failure results, inability to carry oxygen is seen in sepsis, burns, major injuries, drugs pneumonia, viral infection, and when other starts to fail. Smoking is a very important , contributory risk factor, even though smoking itself alone will not cause ards.