Pulmonary edema: causes, symptoms and therapies

Caused mainly by heart problems, it is generally manifested by “air hunger” and increased respiratory rhythms. There are several possible therapies.

Pulmonary edema is characterized by the accumulation in the lung of fluid from the blood vessels following a significant increase in circulatory pressure or direct damage to the walls of the same vessels.

We speak of “interstitial” edema if the fluid is concentrated between the cells of the tissue, while it is called “alveolar” if it fills the alveoli, or the cavities, normally full of air, protagonists of the exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide.

What are the causes of pulmonary edema?

The causes can be many, although in most cases pulmonary edema is due to heart problems such as coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, ischemia or hypertension.

In addition to cardiovascular diseases, edema can also be caused by a structural alteration of the heart itself, especially if the left ventricle is involved.

Under normal conditions, in fact, the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the pulmonary circulation and then passes it to the left ventricle, from which it arrives at the aorta to be distributed.

In pathological conditions or structural alteration, the left ventricle expels less blood than normally happens, causing an accumulation upstream, ie at the lung level.

The increase in blood in the pulmonary circulation in turn increases venous pressure with consequent filtration of fluids outside the capillaries.

If one of these conditions occurs, that is, if the pulmonary edema is due to problems related to the heart, it will be called “cardiogenic”.

On the contrary, we will speak of “non-cardiogenic” if it is attributable to other reasons, such as lung infections, chest trauma, kidney disease, inhalation of toxic substances or respiratory stress conditions, including being at high altitudes.

Cardiogenic pulmonary edema Cardiovascular diseases and structural alterations of the heart
Non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema Lung infections, chest trauma, kidney disease, inhalation of toxic substances or respiratory distress conditions, including be at high altitude.
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What are the symptoms to recognize it?

It is important first of all to distinguish the acute and sudden form from the chronic one.

Sudden pulmonary edema usually manifests itself with shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, and then passes, in the most serious situations, to a sense of suffocation, wheezing or wheezing, sweating, pallor and, in some cases, chest pain.

The chronic form is instead characterized by shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing even during mild physical activity, swelling in the extremities of the limbs, frequent awakenings for sleep apnea and loss of appetite.

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What therapies do we have available?

Depending on the underlying disease of pulmonary edema, the doctor will prescribe the most appropriate therapy, although commonly measures are put in place to support circulation, gas exchange and correct respiratory dynamics.

Among the interventions of choice we find oxygen therapy, replaced by real assisted ventilation in the most serious cases, and the reduction of the amount of extravascular fluids through the administration of diuretics and antihypertensives.

Morphine can also be useful as it helps to resolve dyspnea, or difficult breathing, as well as to alleviate anxiousness.

Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.

The blog covers a wide range of topics related to health and wellness, with articles organized into several categories.

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