Pulmonary Edema

This is a condition that is caused by excess fluid in the lungs. The fluid gets collected in numerous air sacs in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. In many cases, heart problems cause pulmonary edema. The fluid can accumulate for other reasons as well, such as pneumonia, exposure to medications and toxins, exercising or living at high elevations.

Some of the causes of pulmonary edema include:

• Hypertension
• Narrowed heart valves
• Heart attack or any disease of the heart that weakens the heart muscle
• Kidney failure
• Major injury
• Lung damage caused by poisonous gas or severe infection

Depending on the cause, the symptoms of pulmonary edema may appear suddenly or develop slowly.

Contact your doctor immediately if your:

• Breathing becomes difficult
• Severe drop in blood pressure resulting in sweating and dizziness
• A wheezing sound when you breathe
• Pink frothy sputum when you cough