Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It IsSymptomsComplicationsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentOutlookPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Is
Symptoms
Complications
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Outlook
Prevention
Pulmonary edema, sometimes called “wet lung,” is a serious medical condition in which the air sacs of the lung (alveoli) fill with fluid, making breathing difficult. Symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and a frothy discharge.
Pulmonary edema is a very serious condition associated with heart disease but one that can occur due to non-heart-related causes. In people with a terminal illness, the condition is often fatal. In others, pulmonary edema is treatable, with as many people surviving for several years or more.
This article discusses the causes and symptoms of pulmonary edema, including how this lung complication is diagnosed and treated. It also discusses survival rates, life expectancy statistics, and ways to reduce your risk.
KATERYNA KON / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images
What Is Pulmonary Edema?
Under normal circumstances, alveoli are where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged as you inhale and exhale. As you inhale, oxygen molecules move from the alveoli tored blood cells, which carry the molecules to tissues of the body. The cells then carry carbon dioxide (a waste product of cellular metabolism) back to the alveoli to be expelled from the body as you exhale.
With pulmonary edema, this process is interrupted, and you can neither deliver enough oxygen to the blood nor remove enough carbon dioxide from the blood.
Symptoms of Pulmonary Edema
The symptoms of pulmonary edema can vary based on the underlying cause. The causes may be categorized as being eitheracute(suddenly and severe) orchronic(persistent or recurring).
Acute pulmonary edema signs and symptoms include:
Chronic pulmonary edema signs and symptoms include:
The lung is interconnected with the heart, kidneys, and liver, and the disruption of one of these systems can affect the others.
With pulmonary edema, the pressure placed on the pulmonary artery can lead topulmonary hypertension(high blood pressure in the lungs). This can cause adverse effects in the associated organs.
In severe cases, this can lead to complications like:
Can Pulmonary Edema Cause Sudden Death?Acute pulmonary edema is a medical emergency that can be fatal if not treated immediately. The same applies to high-altitude pulmonary edema, which can turn quickly fatal in 50% of cases if left untreated.
Can Pulmonary Edema Cause Sudden Death?
Acute pulmonary edema is a medical emergency that can be fatal if not treated immediately. The same applies to high-altitude pulmonary edema, which can turn quickly fatal in 50% of cases if left untreated.
What Causes Pulmonary Edema?
Pulmonary edema is broadly characterized as either cardiac pulmonary edema (involving thecardiovascular system) or non-cardiac pulmonary edema (not involving the cardiovascular system). Both are more common in older adults and people with chronic diseases.
Cardiac Pulmonary Edema
Cardiac pulmonary edema (or cardiogenic pulmonary edema) is the most common form of the disease. It occurs when a heart condition increases blood pressure within the heart. The pressure is then transferred to the lungs' capillaries, causing fluid to leak into the airways and accumulate in the alveoli.
Almost any kind of heart disease can lead to pulmonary edema. The most common causes include:
Non-Cardiac Pulmonary Edema
Non-cardiac pulmonary edema (or noncardiogenic pulmonary edema), occurs when capillaries in the lungs become damaged for reasons unrelated to the heart.
Noncardiogenic causes of pulmonary edema include:
How Is Pulmonary Edema Diagnosed?
Other tests may include:
Cardiogenic or Noncardiogenic?Cardiac catheterization may be crucial to the diagnosis. By placing the catheter in the pulmonary artery, the healthcare provider can differentiate cardiogenic from noncardiogenic pulmonary edema.If blood pressure in the pulmonary artery is elevated, cardiogenic pulmonary edema is the likely cause. If not, noncardiogenic pulmonary edema is most likely.
Cardiogenic or Noncardiogenic?
Cardiac catheterization may be crucial to the diagnosis. By placing the catheter in the pulmonary artery, the healthcare provider can differentiate cardiogenic from noncardiogenic pulmonary edema.If blood pressure in the pulmonary artery is elevated, cardiogenic pulmonary edema is the likely cause. If not, noncardiogenic pulmonary edema is most likely.
Cardiac catheterization may be crucial to the diagnosis. By placing the catheter in the pulmonary artery, the healthcare provider can differentiate cardiogenic from noncardiogenic pulmonary edema.
If blood pressure in the pulmonary artery is elevated, cardiogenic pulmonary edema is the likely cause. If not, noncardiogenic pulmonary edema is most likely.
How Is Pulmonary Edema Treated?
The immediate treatment goals for pulmonary edema are to reduce the fluid buildup in the lungs and restore blood oxygen levels to normal. The ultimate treatment, though, is to resolve the underlying cause.
The treatment may involve:
Outlook for Pulmonary Edema
The prognosis (outlook) for people with pulmonary edema depends on several factors, including the underlying cause and how quickly the condition is diagnosed and treated.
In about one-quarter of hospitalized people, cardiogenic pulmonary edema is fatal. While roughly half will live for at least another year, only around 15% live longer than six years.
The outlook for people with noncardiogenic pulmonary edema is generally better, with 43% living for at least four years and some living many years more.
Pulmonary edema from ARDS is also often fatal. In severe cases, up to 60% of people die in the hospital. Those who survive often diminished functional capacity and mental health problems which can severely decrease their quality of life.
In critically ill patients, neurogenic pulmonary edema is almost always fatal, primarily when it is associated with stroke.Approximately 40% will survive NPE, and the outlook can improve significantly after 48 to 72 hours of aggressive treatment.
How to Prevent Pulmonary Edema
Given that pulmonary edema has many causes, there is not always a way to prevent this potentially life-threatening condition.
But given that heart disease is the most likely cause, you would be well served to take the following steps to reduce your risk of heart disease:
If you are prescribed heart medications, take them as prescribed without interruption and see your primary care provider orcardiologistfor regular checkups and medication refills.
Summary
Blood tests, imaging studies, and cardiac catheterization may be used to confirm the diagnosis and narrow the possible causes. Treatments include oxygen therapy and medications that improve heart output and reduce pressure in lung capillaries.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Figueras J, Baneras J, Pena-Gil C, Barrabes JA, Palomares JR, Dorado DG.Hospital and 4‐year mortality predictors in patients with acute pulmonary edema with and without coronary artery disease.J Am Heart Assoc.2016;5:e002581. doi:10.1161/JAHA.115.002581Sureka B, Bansai K, Arora A.Pulmonary edema − cardiogenic or noncardiogenic?J Family Med Prim Care.2015;4(2):290. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.154684Purvey M, Allen G.Managing acute pulmonary oedema.Aust Prescr.2017 Apr;40(2):59–63. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.013Barile M.Pulmonary edema: a pictorial review of imaging manifestations and current understanding of mechanisms of disease.Eur J Radiol Open.2020;7:100274. doi:10.1016/j.ejro.2020.100274Woods P, Alcock J.High-altitude pulmonary edema.Evol Med Public Health.2021;9(1):118–119. doi:10.1093/emph/eoaa052Penn Medicine.Pulmonary edema.Saguil A, Fargo MV.Acute respiratory distress syndrome: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(12):730–8.Zhao J, Xuan NX, Cui W, Tian BP.Neurogenic pulmonary edema following acute stroke: The progress and perspective.Biomed Pharmacother. 2020;130:110478. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110478National Health Service (UK).Prevention: coronary heart disease.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Figueras J, Baneras J, Pena-Gil C, Barrabes JA, Palomares JR, Dorado DG.Hospital and 4‐year mortality predictors in patients with acute pulmonary edema with and without coronary artery disease.J Am Heart Assoc.2016;5:e002581. doi:10.1161/JAHA.115.002581Sureka B, Bansai K, Arora A.Pulmonary edema − cardiogenic or noncardiogenic?J Family Med Prim Care.2015;4(2):290. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.154684Purvey M, Allen G.Managing acute pulmonary oedema.Aust Prescr.2017 Apr;40(2):59–63. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.013Barile M.Pulmonary edema: a pictorial review of imaging manifestations and current understanding of mechanisms of disease.Eur J Radiol Open.2020;7:100274. doi:10.1016/j.ejro.2020.100274Woods P, Alcock J.High-altitude pulmonary edema.Evol Med Public Health.2021;9(1):118–119. doi:10.1093/emph/eoaa052Penn Medicine.Pulmonary edema.Saguil A, Fargo MV.Acute respiratory distress syndrome: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(12):730–8.Zhao J, Xuan NX, Cui W, Tian BP.Neurogenic pulmonary edema following acute stroke: The progress and perspective.Biomed Pharmacother. 2020;130:110478. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110478National Health Service (UK).Prevention: coronary heart disease.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Figueras J, Baneras J, Pena-Gil C, Barrabes JA, Palomares JR, Dorado DG.Hospital and 4‐year mortality predictors in patients with acute pulmonary edema with and without coronary artery disease.J Am Heart Assoc.2016;5:e002581. doi:10.1161/JAHA.115.002581Sureka B, Bansai K, Arora A.Pulmonary edema − cardiogenic or noncardiogenic?J Family Med Prim Care.2015;4(2):290. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.154684Purvey M, Allen G.Managing acute pulmonary oedema.Aust Prescr.2017 Apr;40(2):59–63. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.013Barile M.Pulmonary edema: a pictorial review of imaging manifestations and current understanding of mechanisms of disease.Eur J Radiol Open.2020;7:100274. doi:10.1016/j.ejro.2020.100274Woods P, Alcock J.High-altitude pulmonary edema.Evol Med Public Health.2021;9(1):118–119. doi:10.1093/emph/eoaa052Penn Medicine.Pulmonary edema.Saguil A, Fargo MV.Acute respiratory distress syndrome: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(12):730–8.Zhao J, Xuan NX, Cui W, Tian BP.Neurogenic pulmonary edema following acute stroke: The progress and perspective.Biomed Pharmacother. 2020;130:110478. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110478National Health Service (UK).Prevention: coronary heart disease.
Figueras J, Baneras J, Pena-Gil C, Barrabes JA, Palomares JR, Dorado DG.Hospital and 4‐year mortality predictors in patients with acute pulmonary edema with and without coronary artery disease.J Am Heart Assoc.2016;5:e002581. doi:10.1161/JAHA.115.002581
Sureka B, Bansai K, Arora A.Pulmonary edema − cardiogenic or noncardiogenic?J Family Med Prim Care.2015;4(2):290. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.154684
Purvey M, Allen G.Managing acute pulmonary oedema.Aust Prescr.2017 Apr;40(2):59–63. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.013
Barile M.Pulmonary edema: a pictorial review of imaging manifestations and current understanding of mechanisms of disease.Eur J Radiol Open.2020;7:100274. doi:10.1016/j.ejro.2020.100274
Woods P, Alcock J.High-altitude pulmonary edema.Evol Med Public Health.2021;9(1):118–119. doi:10.1093/emph/eoaa052
Penn Medicine.Pulmonary edema.
Saguil A, Fargo MV.Acute respiratory distress syndrome: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(12):730–8.
Zhao J, Xuan NX, Cui W, Tian BP.Neurogenic pulmonary edema following acute stroke: The progress and perspective.Biomed Pharmacother. 2020;130:110478. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110478
National Health Service (UK).Prevention: coronary heart disease.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
