Pulmonary Edema
Pulmonary Edema
It is defined as the condition in which there is fluid accumulation occur in lungs. In pulmonary edema fluid collected in the alveoli which are the air sacs of lungs which causes difficulty in breathing. There are many causes of pulmonary edema but heart disease is more common than others.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of pulmonary edema include:
- Cold, clammy skin
- Cyanosis
- Wheezing
- Dyspnea
- Cough
- Suffocation
- Anxiety
- Palpitations
- Fatigue
- Swelling
Causes
Following are the causes of pulmonary edema:
- Right heart sided failure
- Infection in lungs
- Cardiomyopathy
- Hypertension
- Endocarditis
- Amyloidosis
- Hemochromatosis
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome
- High altitude
- Blood clot
- Viral infections
- Smoke inhalation
Diagnosis
After taking history and conducting physical examination your doctor will recommend the following tests:
- Echocardiogram to check the electric activity of the heart
- X-ray of chest to check the images of lungs and heart
- ECG to see the electrical rhythm
- Cardiac catheterization to check the structure of heart
- Pulse oximetry to check the blood oxygen level
- To check blood gas concentration
- Ultrasound of lungs
Treatment
For pulmonary edema it is necessary to start supportive treatment urgently. Give oxygen to the patient and check the vital signs of the patient after that following treatment should be start as soon as possible:
- Morphine to reduce the difficulty in breathing and control the anxiety
- Drugs for hypertension to control the blood pressure
- Inotropes to increase the heart pumping ability
- Diuretics to decrease the fluid accumulation
Lifestyle and home remedies
Following tips will help you:
- Avoid smoking
- Avoid going on high altitude
- Take medicine for blood pressure control
- Eat low cholesterol food
- Limit salt intake
- Eat healthy food
- Exercise daily