7/30/2019 Treatment for Water in the Lungs
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Treatment for Water in the Lungs
The Mayo Clinic defines water in the lungs, or pulmonary edema,
as "...increased pressurein the blood vessels in your lungs (which)
forces fluid into the air sacs, preventing them
from absorbing oxygen..." Pulmonary edema can be caused by a
variety of diseases,including heart problems, pneumonia and
infections. Pulmonary edema is a seriouscondition, and
understanding how to treat the condition is important and can save
thelives of those suffering from this unfortunate condition.
Pulmonary edema needsimmediate medical attention.
Define What Caused Pulmonary Edema
o It is important to know what caused water in the lungs. It is
a condition that occurs intandem with other health issues. Heart
problems are the most common cause of pulmonaryedema, with
congestive heart failure being the most common of these heart
issues. Anothercommon cause is pneumonia. It is important to treat
these diseases as well as the
pulmonary edema.
Give Oxygen
o It is important to give oxygen to the patient. The water in
the lungs makes it difficult, if notimpossible, for the patient to
breath. Oxygen can be given through a face mask or in prongsplaced
in the nose. If the condition is serious enough to merit it, a
breathing tube may beplaced in the windpipe, but it is best to
avoid such an invasive treatment if possible. A
ventilator, or breathing machine, may be necessary.
Water Pills
oSometimes it may be possible to simply use pills to treat water
in the lungs. Water pills, ordiuretics, help the excess water in
the lungs leave the body through the urinary tract. Thesepills are
generally used in minor incidents of water in the lungs, as the
efficiency of thesepills is not perfect, nor is the volume of water
they are capable of removing from the lungs.
Restrict Fluid and Sodium
o This is a very important and easy step to take. Before
pulmonary edema is completelytreated, fluid restriction is
necessary to avoid creating further complications. Sodium
should
be avoided entirely as one effect of sodium is the retention of
water in the body. Remember,although fluid should be restricted, it
is important to keep the patient properly hydrated toavoid
dehydration.
Antibiotics
o Sometimes, pulmonary edema is caused by infections instead of
heart disease orpneumonia. In the case of severe infections,
antibiotics can be used to treat the infection.Once the infection
has been treated, the above treatments should be used to deal with
the
water in the lungs.
