Pulmonary edema :
Pulmonary edema is described as fluid accumulation in the lungs. Congestive heart failure is the primary cause of pulmonary edema. The other causative factors of fluid build up include narrowing or leakage of heart valves, heart attack, abnormal heart rhythm, weakened heart muscle, high blood pressure, inflammation of the heart muscle, acute respiratory distress syndrome and pericardial effusion (fluid build up in the pericardium). The presenting complaints of pulmonary edema include suffocation, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, mainly during movement or while lying down, wheezing, chest tightness or pain, gasping for air, tiredness, and swelling in the legs. The treatment modalities to deal with pulmonary edema include medications, oxygen delivery through prongs in the nose, machines that blow air into the lungs through a mask on the face, respirators or ventilators that blow in air with the help of a tube inserted into the windpipe.












