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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Grace Agboh, AGACNP-BC MSN
Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner & Hospital Medicine
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Ebony Rebecca Alston, DNATMED MD
Cardiovascular Disease & Cardiology
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Michael Robert Aughenbaugh, MD
Hospital Medicine
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Ayesha Awais, MBBS MD
Hospital Medicine
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Soon Mee Chung, MD
Hospital Medicine
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Adeola P. Fagbohunka, DMSc MSPA PA
Hospital Medicine
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Harender Kalonia, MBBS MD
Hospital Medicine
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Mariam Khan, MBBS MD
Hospital Medicine
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Maryam Khavandi, MD
Hospital Medicine
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Jillian Lee Kopcik, MS PA
Hospital Medicine
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Alyssa Kathryn Meyers, PA
Critical Care Medicine
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Dora Helga Orosz, MHS PA
Family Medicine & Hospital Medicine
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Adinath A Patil, MD
Cardiovascular Disease & Cardiology
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Tigist G. Teklemichael, MD MPH
Hospital Medicine
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Hibret Yifru, AGACNP-BC MSN
Hospital Medicine
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Micheas Zemedkun, MD
Cardiology, Hospital Medicine & Cardiovascular Disease
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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.