pulmonary edema?

Question

What is that?
And what are the syptoms??
Thanks!

Answer 1

Pulmonary Edema is caused by what is known as heart failure. It is a little misleading however, the heart is not truly failing, it just isnt working as well as it should be. The heart has 4 main chambers upper 2 are called ventricles and lower 2 are called atriums. The left ventricle is the work horse of the heart. It's what pumps the blood through our entire body. If this left ventricle starts to decrease its output blood actually starts to "pool". This pooling happens not only in the lower extremities due to the effects of gravity but also in the lungs, where blood goes to receive oxygen before it is pumped through our body again by the left ventricle. This pooling causes people to experience difficulty in breathing, pale skin coloring, and maybe even coughing up blood. The treatment is traditionally a diuretic which removes excess fluid through the kidneys. If symptoms get bad enough a person may need to be put on what is called "assistive ventilations". With this air is actually forced into the lungs with each breath to help force the excess fluid out of the lungs... Hope this helps...

Answer 2

Fluid in and around the lungs. Depending on the cause, the symptoms of pulmonary edema may appear suddenly or develop slowly over weeks or months.

Signs and symptoms that come on suddenly are usually severe and may include:

Extreme shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
A feeling of suffocating or drowning
Wheezing or gasping for breath
Anxiety and restlessness
A cough that produces frothy sputum that may be tinged with blood
Excessive sweating
Pale skin

Chest pain when pulmonary edema is caused by coronary artery disease

Signs and symptoms that develop more gradually include:

Difficulty breathing when you're lying flat as opposed to sitting up
Awakening at night with a breathless feeling
Having more shortness of breath than normal when you're physically active
Significant weight gain when pulmonary edema develops as a result of congestive heart failure, a condition in which your heart pumps too little blood to meet your body's needs

If you develop any of these signs or symptoms, call 911 or emergency medical assistance right away. Pulmonary edema can be fatal if not treated.

Answer 3

Fluid in or around the lungs caused by either a heart problem (cardiogenic pulmonary edema) or injury to the lungs (non cardiogenic pulmonary edema) the symptoms are shortness of breath, possible coughing up blood, excessive sweating, all usually caused from the hypoxia (lack of oxygen) that your body is getting due to the problem. You need to see your doctor if you have not already, see a cardiologist if you have only seen your primary Dr and have not gotten the answers you feel you need.
Donna, RRT

Answer 4

Let's ask the expert. ( it's pronounced EDEEEma!!!