Pulmonary edema (patient information)

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

WikiDoc Resources for Pulmonary edema (patient information)
Articles
Most recent articles on Pulmonary edema (patient information) Most cited articles on Pulmonary edema (patient information) Review articles on Pulmonary edema (patient information) Articles on Pulmonary edema (patient information) in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Pulmonary edema (patient information) Images of Pulmonary edema (patient information) Photos of Pulmonary edema (patient information) Podcasts & MP3s on Pulmonary edema (patient information) Videos on Pulmonary edema (patient information)
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Pulmonary edema (patient information) Bandolier on Pulmonary edema (patient information) TRIP on Pulmonary edema (patient information)
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Pulmonary edema (patient information) at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Pulmonary edema (patient information) Clinical Trials on Pulmonary edema (patient information) at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Pulmonary edema (patient information) NICE Guidance on Pulmonary edema (patient information) NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Pulmonary edema (patient information) CDC on Pulmonary edema (patient information)
Books
Books on Pulmonary edema (patient information)
News
Pulmonary edema (patient information) in the news Be alerted to news on Pulmonary edema (patient information) News trends on Pulmonary edema (patient information)
Commentary
Blogs on Pulmonary edema (patient information)
Definitions
Definitions of Pulmonary edema (patient information)
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Pulmonary edema (patient information) Discussion groups on Pulmonary edema (patient information) Patient Handouts on Pulmonary edema (patient information) Directions to Hospitals Treating Pulmonary edema (patient information) Risk calculators and risk factors for Pulmonary edema (patient information)
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Pulmonary edema (patient information) Causes & Risk Factors for Pulmonary edema (patient information) Diagnostic studies for Pulmonary edema (patient information) Treatment of Pulmonary edema (patient information)
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Pulmonary edema (patient information)
International
Pulmonary edema (patient information) en Espanol Pulmonary edema (patient information) en Francais
Business
Pulmonary edema (patient information) in the Marketplace Patents on Pulmonary edema (patient information)
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Pulmonary edema (patient information)

Editor-in-Chief: Alexandra M. Palmer

Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.

What is Pulmonary edema?

Pulmonary edema is an abnormal build up of fluid in the air sacs of the lungs, which leads to shortness of breath.

What are the symptoms of Pulmonary edema?

• Anxiety
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Excessive sweating
• Feeling of "air hunger" or "drowning" (if this occurs suddenly, awakening you from sleep and causing you to sit up and catch your breath, it's called "paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea")
• Grunting or gurgling sounds with breathing
• Pale skin
• Restlessness
• Shortness of breath
• Shortness of breath when lying down (orthopnea) -- you may need to sleep with your head propped up or use extra pillows
• Wheezing

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this condition:

• Coughing up blood or bloody froth
• Decrease in level of alertness (consciousness)
• Inability to speak in full sentences
• Nasal flaring

What causes Pulmonary edema?

Pulmonary edema is usually caused by heart failure.

As the heart fails, pressure in the veins going through the lungs starts to rise. As the pressure in these blood vessels increases, fluid is pushed into the air spaces (alveoli) in the lungs. This fluid interrupts normal oxygen movement through the lungs, resulting in shortness of breath.

Pulmonary edema may be caused by damage directly to the lung, such as that caused by poisonous gas or severe infection, as a side effect of medications, or the result of major trauma. Lung damage with a buildup of body fluid is also seen in kidney failure. Exercising at very high altitudes can also cause pulmonary edema.

Pulmonary edema may also be a complication of a heart attack, leaking or narrowed heart valves (mitral or aortic valves), or any disease of the heart that results in weakening or stiffening of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy).

Where to find medical care for Pulmonary edema

Directions to Hospitals Treating Pulmonary edema