Fluid in the lungs caused by heart problems
Your lungs contain many small air sacs, which are called alveoli. Normally, these sacs bring in oxygen when you inhale and release carbon dioxide when you exhale. But in people with pulmonary edema, alveoli can fill with fluid instead of air, which means you’re not getting enough oxygen when you breathe.
Pulmonary edema most often is caused by heart failure. Our Advanced Heart Failure program is unmatched in the mid-Atlantic region for quality of care and patient outcomes for heart failure and related conditions.
Other heart conditions that can cause pulmonary edema include:
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Cardiomyopathy, or damage to the heart muscle
What are the symptoms of pulmonary edema?
Pulmonary edema symptoms can appear suddenly or come on gradually over time. Some of the symptoms you may notice include:
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Fatigue
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Shortness of breath
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Swelling in the legs or feet
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Wheezing
Tests
Diagnosing pulmonary edema starts with a physical exam, including listening for fluid in the lungs with a stethoscope. Your doctor may use blood tests or other procedures to determine if you have pulmonary edema and whether it’s heart related.
Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat a variety of heart and vascular conditions by guiding thin, flexible tubes called catheters through blood vessels to problem areas.
Chest X-ray
Chest X-rays use a small dose of radiation to create pictures of the structures inside the chest, including the lungs, heart, and chest wall.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.
Treatments
Treatment for pulmonary edema starts by giving oxygen through a face mask or tubes in the nose. Further treatment depends on the root cause of your pulmonary edema.
Our providers
Location: Change location Enter your location
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Abdel Mun'em Saber Al-Hourani, MD
Hospital Medicine
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Jonathan A Altschuler, MD
Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease & Interventional Cardiology
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Surekha Uma Annadanam, MD
Hospital Medicine
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Megan E Brinkman, MMS PA
Hospital Medicine
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Felicia Claudette Elvis, PA
Cardiology
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Justin Gatt, MD
Hospital Medicine
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Cassandra Lynn Libbing, DO
Hospital Medicine
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Suzanne Malouf, FNPBC MSN
Interventional Cardiology & Cardiology
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Aveek Mukherjee, MBBS MD
Pulmonary Medicine & Critical Care Medicine
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Kristin Ellen Murphy, PA-C
Cardiovascular Disease
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Sharon Reilly O'Brien, MD
Critical Care Medicine & Pulmonary Medicine
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Shams T Quazi, MD MS
Hospital Medicine
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Melissa Jeanne Scalchunes, AGACNP DNP MSN
Cardiology
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Sunita Sharma, MD
Hospital Medicine
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Mahyar Toofantabrizi, MD
Hospital Medicine
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Georgia Willie-Carnegie, MD
Cardiology
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Additional information
Advanced heart failure program
Partner with leaders in the field to manage and treat your heart failure and help you maximize your quality of life.
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.