Pulmonary Edema Symptoms

Quick Glance: Common Pulmonary Edema Symptoms

Common pulmonary edema symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath during activity or at rest

• Difficulty breathing when lying flat

• A feeling of suffocation or drowning

• Persistent cough, sometimes producing frothy or pink-tinged sputum

• Wheezing or noisy breathing

• Rapid breathing

• Fast or irregular heartbeat

• Restlessness, anxiety or unusual tiredness

Pulmonary Edema Symptoms That Should Not Be Ignored

Symptoms of pulmonary edema can appear suddenly in acute pulmonary edema or develop gradually in longer-term cases. The table below mentions the symptoms that require prompt medical evaluation:

Why Do Pulmonary Edema Symptoms Occur?

Pulmonary edema occurs when excess fluid collects in the lung tissue and air sacs, called alveoli. The alveoli normally contain air and allow oxygen to move into the bloodstream while carbon dioxide moves out. When fluid enters these spaces, oxygen exchange becomes less efficient, which can cause breathlessness and low blood oxygen levels.

In cardiogenic pulmonary edema, the left side of the heart may not pump blood effectively. This can increase pressure in the blood vessels supplying the lungs. The increased pressure can push fluid from these blood vessels into the lung tissue and alveoli.

Pulmonary edema can also occur without heart failure. Conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), severe infection, certain medicines or toxins, chest trauma, kidney-related fluid overload and high-altitude exposure can damage the lungs or alter fluid movement, allowing fluid to accumulate.

As fluid builds up, oxygen exchange becomes more difficult. This can lead to shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and wheezing along with crackling sounds (rales) that a doctor can hear with a stethoscope during a chest examination. Severe oxygen deficiency may cause bluish skin, confusion or extreme tiredness.

Pulmonary Edema Symptoms That Require Immediate Medical Attention

Seek emergency medical care if pulmonary edema is suspected, particularly when the following symptoms develop suddenly:

• Severe or sudden difficulty breathing

• Shortness of breath while at rest

• A feeling of suffocation or drowning

• Coughing up frothy or pink-tinged sputum

• Blue, grey or very pale lips or skin

• Chest pain or pressure

• Confusion, severe drowsiness or loss of consciousness

• Inability to speak in complete sentences because of breathlessness

• Very rapid breathing or heartbeat with severe breathlessness

• Collapse or signs of shock

Symptoms of Pulmonary Edema Based on Type

The table below presents the symptoms of different types of pulmonary edema:

Symptoms of Pulmonary Edema in Children

Pulmonary edema symptoms in children may include:

• Rapid or difficult breathing

• Cough

• Wheezing or crackling breathing sounds

• Bluish lips or skin

• Unusual tiredness or sleepiness

• Difficulty feeding in infants

Young children may not be able to describe breathlessness clearly. Parents or carers may instead notice rapid breathing, grunting, irritability, difficulty feeding or a change in skin colour.

Can You Have Pulmonary Edema Without Symptoms?

Pulmonary edema is not usually a completely silent condition. However, when it develops gradually, early symptoms may be subtle. A person may notice reduced exercise tolerance, increasing breathlessness during normal activities or difficulty breathing when lying flat.

Acute pulmonary edema usually causes more noticeable symptoms and can develop rapidly. Sudden severe breathlessness, particularly at rest, requires emergency medical assessment.

When Can Pulmonary Edema Symptoms Become Life-Threatening?

The table below explains when pulmonary edema symptoms can become life-threatening:

How are Pulmonary Edema Symptoms Diagnosed?

A healthcare professional considers the person's symptoms, medical history and physical examination, along with appropriate investigations to identify fluid in the lungs and determine the underlying cause.

The following diagnostic tests are commonly used to confirm pulmonary edema and identify its underlying cause:

A chest CT scan may be used when further imaging is needed or when another cause of breathing difficulty is suspected.