Pulmonary oedema leads to pulmonary congestion, where patients experience severe breathing discomfort from fluid accumulation in the airbags.
Pulmonary oedema signs include wheezing besides serious breathing difficulty. We suggest patients showing such symptoms seek clinical help at the earliest or get diagnosed to reduce the underlying issue.
Pulmonary oedema is often a side effect of underlying cardiac ailments like congestive heart failure (CHF). Patients having acute pneumonia or severe lung infection (sepsis) can also show a fluid buildup in the lungs.
Oedema can choke the trachea, risking death as doctors advise without emergency clinical care to prevent asphyxiation.
The air sacs store sufficient gas at a constant pressure required for breathing. Patients having pulmonary oedema experience fluid congestion in the air sacs as the inhaled oxygen cannot diffuse into the blood, starving the entire body.
Pulmonary oedema is a fatal respiratory condition. Although it accounts for 2-4 patients out of 100,000, the fatality rate is nearly 50%.
Oedema in the lungs can risk a cardiac or cerebral impairment from the acute shortage of oxygen in the blood. Besides, individuals with a history of respiratory illness are more prone to lung infection.
Pulmonary oedema could be a temporary condition (mild onset of symptoms) or stay as chronic lung congestion of fluids (long term). Doctors highlight the various pulmonary oedema signs that help patients recognise underlying discomfort.
There are two types of pulmonary oedema:
Cardiogenic
- The patient has an underlying defect in the heart.
- Underlying defect in the left ventricle.
- Patients having heart valve problems.
- Atherosclerosis (narrowed lumen of the artery) affects natural circulation.
- Prolonged hypertension
- The side-effect of insufficient oxygen transport to the whole body.
- Risks of heart attack or cerebral fatality without emergency care.
Non-cardiogenic
- Clinically called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- A blunt injury on the chest can cause tracheal collapse (leading to water in the lungs).
- Side effects of exposure to toxic chemicals.
- Blood clotting in the air sacs.
- Fluid congestion in the lungs as a side effect of drug overdoses, pathogenic infections and the aftermath of near-drowning.
Pulmonary oedema signs are like other respiratory illnesses. It’s impossible for unaware patients to feel fluid congestion in the lungs without breathing discomfort.
Here’s how doctors look for potential pulmonary oedema signs:
Chronic pulmonary oedema
- Sudden onset of asphyxiation
- Wheezing noise (shows dyspnoea or painful breathing)
- Patient experience breathlessness in the sleep
- Swelling of hands and feet (oedema)
- Prone to exhaustion
- Moist blue skin (lack of saturated oxygen in the blood)
Acquired pulmonary oedema
- Side effects of altitude sickness.
- Patient experience arrhythmia.
- Breathing issues prevalent after exercise.
- Experiencing severe respiratory discomfort (blood present in cough).
- High fever
Specialised doctors (pulmonologists) observe patients reporting potential breathing issues. Pulmonary oedema diagnosis includes examining the signs of respiratory discomfort and running diagnostic tests to evaluate the patient’s respiratory system.
It includes:
- Doctors use a stethoscope to hear heart and lung sounds to detect underlying cardio-respiratory anomalies.
- Prescribing for blood tests (detecting underlying infection presence).
- Performing a chest X-ray, ECG and measuring pO2 (oxygen saturation in the blood).
- Looking for oedema signs in other parts of the body.
Pulmonary oedema is fatal in patients with pre-existing cardiac problems. We request individuals with respiratory discomfort visit a pulmonologist to get treated at the earliest.
Pulmonary oedema treatment includes restoring the natural pO2 in blood, managing existing lung infections and reducing underlying cardiac or respiratory discomforts.
It includes:
- Rehabilitating the patient with 100% pure O2 (using positive pressure breathing technique).
- Reducing oedema signs all over the body (diuretic drugs).
- Lowering hypertension in the patient.
- Analgesic medications (morphine) relieve mental stress, reducing anxiety and further stress in breathing.
- Doctors prescribe anti-hypertensive medications with preloading and after-loading properties to prevent cardiac stress.
- Getting breathing therapy (Yoga) to recuperate from obstructive ventilation.
Pulmonary oedema is preventable if patients lead a restrictive lifestyle minimising the potential scopes of fluid congestion in the lungs. During diagnosis, doctors inform the patient about the vulnerable factors which affect the lungs.
Restrictive steps include:
- Staying away from pollution, cold climate and closed environment.
- Not smoking
- Reducing obesity issues
- Getting vaccinated against potential respiratory illness.
- Visiting a pulmonologist for underlying lung infections and cardiac issues.
- Practising breathing techniques for reducing respiratory discomfort.
Pulmonary oedema compromises natural breathing conditions. Doctors classify lung congestion as a side effect of respiratory issues. Patients facing persistent breathing issues should visit a pulmonologist and seek early treatment.
Individuals showing potential pulmonary oedema signs should try not to feel anxious. We suggest reaching your to the CK Birla Hospital and letting our expert team of specialists take over. Book an appointment to get examined by our best pulmonologist Dr_______.
