Contents
Why does fluid accumulate in the lungs: the doctor answers
We deal with the causes, consequences and methods of treating the disease.
The accumulation of fluid in the lungs is one of the most disturbing symptoms. It poses a threat to human life, because breathing is the most important process that directly depends on the health of the respiratory system. To eliminate such a symptom, it is necessary to act on the cause – the underlying disease, which is quite difficult to diagnose. There can be several dozen possible reasons, and the main reason, as a rule, is only one.
The main symptoms and causes of fluid accumulation in the lungs
The first signs that should alert you are:
increased shortness of breath, regardless of physical activity;
intermittent cough with mucus production;
nervous weakness with periods of increased anxiety;
dizziness.
Predisposing factors for fluid accumulation in the lungs can be:
Heart failure (left ventricular dysfunction of the heart).
Frequent hypertensive crises, due to which blood begins to seep into the lungs through the walls of the vessels.
Pneumonias cause inflammation of the pleura.
Oncological diseases of the lungs, genital area, gastrointestinal tract.
Tuberculosis.
Chest trauma, penetrating wounds.
Diseases of the internal organs, in which damage to the pleura is possible (for example, with cirrhosis of the liver).
Fluid in the lungs: how does age affect?
The risk of fluid in the lungs increases with age. This is facilitated by:
a person’s way of life;
bad habits (addiction to alcohol and smoking);
hypothermia;
neuropsychic fatigue.
Despite the numerous factors leading to the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, there are two main reasons for this symptom – pulmonary edema и exudative pleurisy… Both diseases differ both in their course and in the methods of treatment.
With pulmonary edema, fluid flows directly into the alveoli, which make up the lungs. As a result, gas exchange in the body is disrupted, oxygen starvation, dizziness, and headaches occur. If we talk about pleurisy, then in this case, the fluid is not collected in the lungs themselves, but in the pleural cavity between the chest and lungs. This process is called exudative pleurisy.
Treating fluid accumulation in the lungs
Treatment is based on the following principles:
If the disease is not acute, then you can treat it at home under the supervision of a doctor.
When symptoms become acute, immediate hospitalization is indicated. In a hospital, artificial fluid removal is performed using a catheter.
In the chronic form, a complex of drugs is prescribed. In this case, the treatment is determined by the underlying disease. For an infectious disease, antibiotics are used. In case of heart failure, diuretic drugs are used. Diseases caused by pathogens are treated with antibiotics.
Fluid in the lungs is a symptom that cannot be delayed, so it is important to see a doctor promptly.
Expert Opinion
Cardiologist at the Semeynaya clinic
If fluid in the lungs has accumulated against the background of chronic heart failure, mild diuretics should be taken regularly. They are selected by the attending physician, based on the results of examinations.
It is also worth treating the underlying disease: drugs are prescribed by a cardiologist, at a full-time appointment.
It is important to control the level of the fraction of cardiac output, which is determined by the results of echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart).
Limit the amount of fluid you drink. Usually this is no more than 1400-1500 ml per day. The amount allowed depends on the severity of the disease.
It is also necessary to be monitored regularly by a cardiologist.