Pulmonary edema (patient information)

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What is Pulmonary edema?

Pulmonary edema is an abnormal build up of fluid in the air sacs of the lungs, which leads to shortness of breath.

What are the symptoms of Pulmonary edema?

• Anxiety
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Excessive sweating
• Feeling of "air hunger" or "drowning" (if this occurs suddenly, awakening you from sleep and causing you to sit up and catch your breath, it's called "paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea")
• Grunting or gurgling sounds with breathing
• Pale skin
• Restlessness
• Shortness of breath
• Shortness of breath when lying down (orthopnea) -- you may need to sleep with your head propped up or use extra pillows
• Wheezing

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this condition:

• Coughing up blood or bloody froth
• Decrease in level of alertness (consciousness)
• Inability to speak in full sentences
• Nasal flaring

What causes Pulmonary edema?

Pulmonary edema is usually caused by heart failure.

As the heart fails, pressure in the veins going through the lungs starts to rise. As the pressure in these blood vessels increases, fluid is pushed into the air spaces (alveoli) in the lungs. This fluid interrupts normal oxygen movement through the lungs, resulting in shortness of breath.

Pulmonary edema may be caused by damage directly to the lung, such as that caused by poisonous gas or severe infection, as a side effect of medications, or the result of major trauma. Lung damage with a buildup of body fluid is also seen in kidney failure. Exercising at very high altitudes can also cause pulmonary edema.

Pulmonary edema may also be a complication of a heart attack, leaking or narrowed heart valves (mitral or aortic valves), or any disease of the heart that results in weakening or stiffening of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy).

How do I know I have Pulmonary edema?

The health care provider will perform a physical exam and use a stethoscope to listen to the lungs and heart. The following may be detected:

• Crackles in the lungs, called rales
• Abnormal heart sounds
• Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
• Pale or blue skin color (pallor or cyanosis)
• Rapid breathing (tachypnea)

Possible tests include:

• Complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia and reduced red cell count
• Other blood tests to measure blood chemistries and kidney function
• Blood oxygen levels (oximetry or arterial blood gases) -- low in patients with pulmonary edema
• Chest x-ray may reveal fluid in or around the lung space or an enlarged heart
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) to detect abnormal heart rhythm or evidence of a heart attack
• Ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram) to see if there is a weak heart muscle, leaky or narrow heart valves, or fluid surrounding the heart

When to seek urgent medical care

Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have breathing problems.

Where to find medical care for Pulmonary edema

Directions to Hospitals Treating Pulmonary edema