Pulmonary edema, also known as acute lung edema, pulmonary edema or popularly “water in the lungs,” is an emergency situation, characterized by fluid buildup inside the lungs, reducing the exchange of respiratory gases, causing breathing difficulties. and a sense of drowning.
Pulmonary edema is generally more common in people with cardiovascular problems who are not treated appropriately and, as a result, experience increased pressure in the pulmonary vessels, resulting in blood fluid penetration into the pulmonary alveoli. However, this can also occur due to lung infections, for example.
- Although severe.
- Pulmonary edema is curable.
- But it is important to call an ambulance immediately or take the person to the hospital as soon as possible to begin treatment and remove excess fluid from the lungs.
The main symptoms of acute lung edema, in addition to the great shortness of breath, may include:
Whether or not pulmonary edema is, as long as the person has severe breathing difficulties or more than 2 of these symptoms, it is important to go to the hospital or seek medical assistance to confirm the diagnosis and begin the most appropriate treatment.
In addition to looking at symptoms and evaluating a person’s history, your doctor may also order other tests to help confirm the diagnosis, such as chest x-rays, blood tests, and even heart tests, such as an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram.
Treatment of pulmonary edema should be initiated as soon as possible with the use of an oxygen mask and diuretic remedies directly in the vein, such as furosemide, to increase the amount of urine and remove excess fluid in the lungs.
In addition, appropriate treatment of the disease that causes the problem, which may include medications for high blood pressure, such as Captopril, or Lisinopril to treat decompensated heart failure, for example, is also necessary.
Typically, the person should stay in the hospital for about 7 days to relieve symptoms, control the problem that caused pulmonary edema to appear, and undergo respiratory physiotherapy. During this time, it may still be necessary to use a bladder tube to control the flow of fluids from the body, preventing them from accumulating again.
Respiratory physiotherapy for acute lung edema should be performed by a physical therapist and usually started when the person is hospitalized and with controlled symptoms, serving to gradually improve oxygen levels in the body.
Learn more about how respiratory therapy is performed.