What is pulmonary edema?
Pulmonary edema is a buildup of fluid in the lungs. Most people also speak of “water in the lungs” – which is not medically correct. The fluid is blood plasma that leaks from the pulmonary vessels and collects in the lung tissue.
Pulmonary edema is a medical emergency that, in the worst case, can lead to respiratory failure or other complications such as organ failure. In the following we will explain to you which symptoms you can use to recognize edema, which causes are behind it and which treatment options are possible.
“Water in the lungs”: Symptoms of pulmonary edema
In pulmonary edema, fluid is pressed from the blood vessels into the tissue of the pulmonary alveoli. This clogs the airways, leading to severe shortness of breath. Other symptoms that come with it are
- fear of suffocation
- Cough with foamy sputum
- Shallow and rapid breathing
- rattling noises in the lungs
- facial pallor
- blue discolored lips
Pulmonary edema can be divided into four different stages:
Stage I: Fluid fills the lung tissue.
Stage II: Fluid enters the alveoli.
Stage III: The fluid continues to increase and accumulates in the bronchi. White foam forms, which is excreted when coughing.
Stage IV: The oxygen supply suffers, respiratory and circulatory arrest can occur.
Causes: how does pulmonary edema occur?
There are several causes that can cause pulmonary edema:
- One of the most common causes is one heart disease like a weak left ventricle. The blood backs up into the pulmonary vessels. High blood pressure can also be another reason. The heart is unable to keep pumping blood fast enough. There are also other heart diseases that can cause edema, such as a heart attack or myocarditis.
- As a result of a renal insufficiency the kidneys cannot work properly and it is difficult to excrete water from the body. The fluid accumulates in the lungs.
- competitive sport such as mountaineering and diving also offers an increased potential for pulmonary edema. The extreme pressure conditions at high altitude and under water put enormous strain on the lungs, which is why edema can develop.
- Also injuries to the brain can trigger pulmonary edema – be it for example after an epileptic seizure or after a craniocerebral trauma.
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Treatment of pulmonary edema: which therapies are possible?
If you suspect you have pulmonary edema, you should seek medical attention immediately. If pulmonary edema is treated in time, the chances of recovery are good. However, if pulmonary edema remains untreated, the disease is usually fatal.
Listening to the lungs can give the first indication of edema. An x-ray of your lungs can provide more accurate insights. A blood gas analysis can be used to measure the oxygen content in the blood. In order to be able to determine exactly whether the heart is the cause of the edema, an ECG of the heart, an ultrasound and a cardiac catheterization should be carried out. One of the most important treatment steps is to relieve the heart and reduce the pressure in the blood vessels.
Doctors therefore advise their patients to take an upright position. Less blood pools in front of the heart in the lungs because it flows back from the legs more slowly. In addition to taking painkillers, vasodilating drugs such as nitroglycerin or ACE inhibitors are indispensable to reduce the pressure on the heart and lungs. Dehydrating drugs are useful in acute edema. The volume of fluid in the body decreases, which leads to a reduction in blood pressure and relieves the strain on the heart.
How can pulmonary edema be prevented?
There is no universal measure to specifically prevent pulmonary edema. However, a healthy lifestyle contributes enormously to this. Basically, you should maintain a healthy lifestyle. This includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, avoiding alcohol and nicotine, and regular check-ups with your doctor.