{"id":5771,"date":"2019-04-23T09:48:04","date_gmt":"2019-04-23T09:48:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=5771"},"modified":"2021-06-04T03:13:57","modified_gmt":"2021-06-04T03:13:57","slug":"14-conditions-that-can-lead-to-pulmonary-edema","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-conditions-that-can-lead-to-pulmonary-edema\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Conditions That Can Lead to Pulmonary Edema"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Pulmonary edema refers to a condition where excess fluid builds up in the lungs. This fluid collects in the numerous air sacs in the lungs, which makes it hard to breathe. Most of the time heart issues are the cause of pulmonary edema. However, there are other reasons that fluid may accumulate in the lungs. Pulmonary edema that suddenly develops is referred to as acute pulmonary edema and this is an emergency that requires care immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At times, pulmonary edema can be fatal. However, the outlook improves if treatment is provided quickly. The treatment for the condition will vary based on what is causing the issue. Most of the time medications will be provided as well as supplemental oxygen. No matter what, if you are experiencing symptoms of pulmonary edema it is important to get treatment right away. Here are 8 conditions that may cause a person to develop pulmonary edema. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pulmonary edema<\/a> that is caused by an increase in pressures of the heart is referred to as cardiogenic pulmonary edema. This condition will often occur when the left ventricle of the heart becomes diseased or overworked. When this occurs the pressure will increase inside of the left atrium. This pressure will then move to the capillaries and the veins located in the lungs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This causes fluid to push through the walls and then inside of the air sacs. When the fluids enter the lungs it can make it difficult to breathe. There are different treatments available that can help to alleviate the pressure that is causing the problem in the first place. It is important to make sure that you are going to your doctor on a regular basis so that your heart and lungs can be monitored and proper treatment can be provided. This improves the chances of survival greatly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Coronary Artery Disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A person\u2019s arteries, over time can become narrow. The arteries <\/a>are responsible for helping blood throughout the body, from the heart muscles. \u00a0The narrowing of the arteries occurs when fatty deposits, referred to as plaque builds up inside of them. When blood clots form in one of these arteries that are narrowed, a heart attack will occur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This blocks the flow of the blood and can cause damage to the area of the heart that is supplied by that particular artery. This results in a damaged heart muscle that will no longer be able to pump blood as well as it should. At times a clot is not the cause of the problem. Instead, the narrowing of the arteries can simply lead to the left ventricular muscle becoming weak. The rest of the heart may try to compensate for the loss, there are times when it cannot do this effectively. The extra workload can also weaken the heart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Cardiomyopathy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the heart muscle becomes damaged, the condition is referred to as cardiomyopathy<\/a>. Cardiomyopathy affects how the ventricles function. The ventricles are the main pump of the heart. When the ventricles do not work the way that they should, the heart may not have the ability to respond to certain conditions, and this requires that the heart work harder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes a surge in the blood pressure, a quicker heartbeat with exertion, or eating too much salt in your diet that causes infections or water retention. When the ventricle cannot keep up with the demands of the body, fluid will then back up into the lungs. This can cause a host of health problems, including difficulty breathing. The heart is a very important organ in the body, especially when it comes to keeping the blood flowing through the body. When these fluids cannot be properly dispersed, they can enter areas such as the lungs, causing health issues to arise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Heart Valve Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Aortic valve disease and mitral valve disease are both conditions where the valves that are in charge of regulating the blood flow into the left side of the heart do not open wide enough. This is referred to as stenosis<\/a>. In some cases, the valve does not close completely. When this occurs it allows blood to flow backward through the valve. This is called insufficiency or regurgitation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the valves become narrow the blood cannot flow freely into the heart and the pressure within the left ventricle will build up. This causes it to have to work harder and harder during each contraction. In addition, the left ventricle will dilate in order to allow more blood flow, but this will make the pumping action of the left ventricle less efficient. The increase in pressure will extend throughout the left atrium and into the pulmonary veins, which causes fluid to build up in the lungs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. High Blood Pressure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

High blood pressure<\/a> or hypertension can cause damage to the heart. If high blood pressure is not controlled or properly treated it can cause all sorts of health issues. The high blood pressure can cause the heart to become enlarged. There are certain other conditions that can lead to cardiogenic pulmonary edema as well. High blood pressure that is caused by the kidney arteries becoming narrow is called renal artery stenosis and it can cause fluid to back up because of kidney disease or other heart issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essentially, when the heart is not working properly, it can cause the other organs of the body to begin to fail as well. This is why it is important to make sure that if you are diagnosed with high blood pressure that you get it treated right away. Letting high blood pressure go untreated can lead to all types of health issues including pulmonary edema. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. High Altitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any type of pulmonary edema that is not caused by an increase in pressure in the heart is referred to as noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. In high altitude pulmonary edema, fluid can leak from the capillaries<\/a> located in the air sacs of the lungs. This is because the capillaries become leaky or more permeable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if there is no backpressure being caused by the heart, the fluid can leak into these air sacs anyway. High altitude pulmonary edema typically will occur at elevations that are above 8000 feet. This type of pulmonary edema often affects skiers or hikers who are exercising at higher elevations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can take a few days to over a week to become used to these altitudes, which is why it is important to make sure that you give yourself time to adjust when you are visiting these locations. High altitude pulmonary edema seems to develop from an increase in pressure from the pulmonary capillaries causes constrictions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

ARDS or Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a very serious disorder. This happens when the lungs fill with fluid quite suddenly. In addition to the fluid, the lungs will also fill with white blood cells, which causes inflammation. There are many conditions that can cause a person to develop acute respiratory distress syndrome. The systemic infection known as sepsis can be a cause of ARDS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A severe injury <\/a>or trauma can also cause a person to experience this. Severe bleeding and pneumonia can also cause a person to develop acute respiratory distress syndrome. Any time the respiratory system is affected, it can cause a person to have trouble breathing. These types of infections can cause fluid to build up in the lungs. This may result in pulmonary edema. It is important to get any type of respiratory distress symptoms that you are experiencing treated properly by a medical professional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Nervous System Conditions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Neurogenic pulmonary edema is a condition that may occur after some procedures or conditions that affect the nervous system<\/a>. This includes a head injury, a seizure, and after surgery on the brain. There are several nervous system disorders that may cause a person to experience pulmonary edema. Any damage that is done to the nervous system can affect the entire body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, there are some types of drugs that may cause pulmonary edema. These drugs range from illegal drugs such as cocaine and heroin to over the counter medications such as aspirin. All of these are known to cause pulmonary edema. Viral infections can cause nervous system damage and result in pulmonary edema as well. It is important to make sure that you are checked out by your doctor to determine the underlying cause of your pulmonary edema. This will help to ensure proper treatment is provided. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Pneumonia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pneumonia <\/a>is a bacterial infection of the lungs caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. This highly contagious and infectious disease causes inflammation and swelling in the bronchiole, the thin tubes that carry air to the alveoli. The alveoli are small sacs at the end of the bronchial tubes that carry out the gaseous exchange of CO2 and oxygen. \u00a0
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Patients with pneumonia experience the accumulation of fluid in the alveoli, leading to trouble breathing. The patient may cough up mucus and phlegm frequently, and they may experience wheezing and shortness of breath. In most cases of pneumonia, doctors treat the patient using antibiotics to stop the spread of the bacteria.
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However, should patients fail to receive treatment in time, they run the risk of the infection spreading to both lungs, causing a collapse of the respiratory system and death. During the hours before the collapse, the patient may develop pulmonary edema, increasing respiratory distress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Cirrhosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The liver is a regenerating organ, meaning that it replicates its cells, replacing damaged ones with new, healthy cells. However, certain lifestyle behaviors, such as excessive drinking or alcoholism<\/a>, may induce fatty liver syndrome in some individuals.
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If the patient continues with their self-destructive behavior, they run the risk of scarring the liver. While the organ can heal itself from minor damage, extensive scarring results in fibrosis, or stiffening, of the tissues in the liver. As a result, the patient starts to develop numerous adverse health c0omplications.
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The liver is the body\u2019s primary filter, and when operating inefficiently, the patient has trouble clearing their body of toxins. Liver dysfunction may also lead to the occurrence of pulmonary edema as the organ can no longer filter fluids and waste products from the bloodstream. As the organ starts to fail, it increases levels of fluid accumulation in the body, resulting in the onset of the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Drug Overdose<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

America is dealing with a national health emergency, in the form of opioid <\/a>abuse and addiction. Rates of overdose increased over the last ten years with the introduction of synthetic painkillers, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. Studies show that opioid overdose is now the leading cause of death for adults below the age of 50-years old.
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Fentanyl, a prescription opioid is to blame for the recent spike in overdose deaths in the United States. Independent research shows that China is flooding the United States with fentanyl imports. Early in 2019, the JFK customs team confiscated 2-kilograms of fentanyl shipped from China to the U.S. The shipment size is enough fentanyl to kill more than 100-million Americans.
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One of the gravest dangers of using prescription opioids, other than overdose, is the fact that extensive use causes fluid accumulation around the lungs and cardiovascular system, leading to the onset of pulmonary edema in the addict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Are you planning on climbing a mountain? One of the less common forms of pulmonary edema occurs due to drastic changes in altitude and elevation. This life-threatening condition occurs in healthy people with no history of heart or lung disease – In fact, most mountain climbers are very fit people.
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When the climber reaches altitudes higher than 8,200-feet above sea level, with some cases reported at heights of 5,000-feet as well, when the climber reaches these heights, fluid begins to pool in the lungs<\/a>, leading to the development of pulmonary edema in the climber.
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Climbers that live at sea level, and then try to reach the lofty heights of a mountain, are most at risk of developing the condition. Climbers should prepare for their trip by using barometric therapy. This therapy places the climber inside a pressurized chamber, helping them to develop the necessary levels of red blood cells for the climb.
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This preparation ensures that the sea-level climber has enough red blood cells to manage the lack of oxygen available at these heights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Stroke<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When a person experiences a drop in blood flow<\/a> to the brain, they are at risk of suffering a stroke. This condition usually occurs due to a blockage of the artery feeding blood to the brain. Almost 800,000-Americans experience a stroke every year, with the intensity and effects of the stroke varies significantly from patient to patient.
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Some stroke patients only receive mild symptoms of cognitive distress and confusion. However, some patients may experience partial paralysis of the face or one side of the body. During a stroke, the brain does not receive enough oxygenated blood to function, causing the rapid death of brain cells. If the patient does not receive treatment in time, they may experience severe brain damage.
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Severe strokes may also cause accumulation of fluids in the body, with the development of pulmonary edema in the cardiovascular system. This edema increases the risk of complications with the patient’s already fragile state, leading to a life-threatening situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Lung Disease and Tumors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients with lung disease are at a higher risk of developing symptoms of pulmonary edema. Lung diseases, such as cancer, COPD, and pneumonia, place stress on the tissues in the lungs, causing massive amounts of inflammation <\/a>in the chest cavity. If left undiagnosed and untreated, lung disease can become a life-threatening event that may result in the collapse of the respiratory system in the patient.
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The inflammation caused by lung disease can cause fluid to accumulate in the lungs and chest cavity, leading to the onset of pulmonary edema in the patient. Since most patients with advanced lung disease are already under managed care, the condition is relatively easy for healthcare professionals to spot and treat, before it reaches a life-threatening stage.
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Tumors are also a cause of pulmonary edema. Any cells in the body can turn into a neoplasm under the right circumstances. However, not all tumors are cancerous. If the patient develops tumors in the lungs or chest cavity, they may experience the onset of pulmonary edema as the body tries to deal with the effects of inflammation on the respiratory system.
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