Pulmonary edema

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Lungs Respiratory system

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Pulmonary edema

• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing
• Feeling of "air hunger" or "drowning"
• Grunting or gurgling sounds with breathing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath with lying down, causing the patient to sleep with head propped up or using extra pillows
• Cough
• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Excessive sweating
• Pale skin

• Nasal flaring
• Coughing up blood
• Inability to speak from air hunger
• Decrease in level of awareness

During a physical exam, the provider may identify the following signs:

• Rapid breathing and increased heart rate
• Crackles in the lungs or abnormal heart sounds (while listening to the chest with a stethoscope)
• Pale or blue skin color

Possible tests include:

• Blood oxygen levels (low)
• A chest x-ray may reveal fluid in or around the lung space or an enlarged heart
• An ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram) may reveal weak heart muscle, leaking or narrow heart valves, or fluid surrounding the heart

Email this page  Printer friendly  Bookmark this page