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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Firehiwot Abebe Achamyeleh, MD
Cardiovascular Disease & Cardiology
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Jonathan David Gardner, MD
Cardiology & Cardiovascular Disease
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Aubrey Jonathan Grant, MD
Cardiovascular Disease & Cardiology
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Amy Heung, MPAS PA
Hospital Medicine
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Chitra Komal Jaipaul, MD
Hospital Medicine
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Astha Joshi, MBBS MD
Hospital Medicine
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Djuro Karanovic, MD
Hospital Medicine & Allergy And Immunology
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Matthew Kogan, MD
Hospital Medicine
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Mary Melissa MacCarthy, MSPAS PA
Hematology and Oncology & Hospital Medicine
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Salman Masood Malik, MD
Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology & Cardiovascular Disease
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William Clarence Maxted, MD
Cardiology & Cardiovascular Disease
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Caitlin Emily Priester, MS PA
Hospital Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery
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Joel Rosenberg, MD
Cardiology
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Saman Saeed, MD
Hospital Medicine
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Natelege Wardlow, PA
Critical Care Medicine & Emergency Medicine
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Jared Michael Widell, MD
Cardiovascular Disease, Cardiac Imaging & 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.