Pleural effusion occurs due to excessive fluid buildup in the pleural space, which is the space created between the lung and the outer membrane that coats it, which can occur from cardiovascular, respiratory or autoimmune problems, such as lupus, for example.
This buildup interferes with normal lung function and therefore breathing can be severely affected, and treatment should be done as soon as possible in the hospital to remove excess fluid.
- In normal situations.
- The amount of fluid in the pleural space is very low.
- About 10 ml.
- And results from a perfect balance between its production and absorption.
- However.
- When there is a health problem such as lung infections or heart failure.
- This balance may be affected.
- Causing excess fluid to build up.
Because fluid cannot be absorbed properly, it builds up slowly, increasing pressure in the lungs, making breathing difficult, and causing symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath, for example.
The main causes of pleural effusion are related to inflammation of lung or pleura tissues and include:
However, a stroke can also be caused by problems that cause fluid to increase throughout the body, such as decompensated heart failure, cirrhosis, or advanced kidney disease.
Learn about the other causes of water in your lungs
The best way to confirm the presence of a pleural effusion is by using a chest x-ray to see if there is a buildup of fluid, which is represented by a white area in the lung. In most cases, the cause of pleural effusion is already known, as in cases of heart failure, however, when stroke occurs without apparent cause, additional tests may be needed to identify the cause and begin appropriate treatment.
Early symptoms that may indicate the development of a pleural effusion include:
In most cases these symptoms do not appear in small pleural effusions and even when they do, they may be associated with their causes, such as heart failure or pneumonia, so it is always recommended to do an X-ray to assess the possibility. stroke, especially in decompensated cases or when symptoms are very severe.
Pleural effusion is treated when it is very large and causes symptoms such as severe pain or shortness of breath, because when it is small, it can be absorbed by the body, requiring only new x-rays to observe its evolution.
In cases where treatment is required, your doctor usually drains the fluid, which is done with a needle and syringe to through the chest wall and into fluid-filled space, eliminating excess fluid.
Since there is a high risk that pleural effusion will return within a few weeks of being sucked in, it is very important to identify the cause of the problem, initiating proper treatment of the cause.
After removing excess fluid, your doctor may recommend that respiratory physiotherapy consist of a series of breathing exercises taught by the physical therapist that help your lung return to its normal size after being pressured by stroke.
These exercises are important to reduce discomfort during breathing, but also to increase the amount of oxygen in the body. Understand how respiratory physical therapy is performed.