AllRefer Health - Caring for your Well Being

Home | About | FAQs | Contact Us

AllRefer Channels :: Yellow Pages | Reference | Health  

Diseases & Conditions
Select & Go
 Diet & Nutrition
 Diseases & Conditions 
 Health News
 Injuries & Wounds
 Poisons & Overdoses
 Surgery & Procedures 
 Symptoms Guide
 Special Topics
 Tests & Exams
 Pictures & Images
 Medical Encyclopedia

You are here : AllRefer.com > Health > Diseases & Conditions > Pulmonary edema : Symptoms, Diagnosis & Tests

Pulmonary edema

Alternate Names : Lung congestion, Lung water, Pulmonary congestion

Symptoms & Signs

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this condition:

Diagnosis & Tests

The health care provider will perform a physical exam and use a stethoscope to listen to the lungs and heart. The following may be detected:

  • Crackles in the lungs, called rales
  • Abnormal heart sounds
  • Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
  • Pale or blue skin color (pallor or cyanosis)
  • Rapid breathing (tachypnea)

Possible tests include:

  • Complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia and reduced red cell count
  • Other blood tests to measure blood chemistries and kidney function
  • Blood oxygen levels (oximetry or arterial blood gases) -- low in patients with pulmonary edema
  • Chest x-ray may reveal fluid in or around the lung space or an enlarged heart
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG) to detect abnormal heart rhythm or evidence of a heart attack
  • Ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram) to see if there is a weak heart muscle, leaky or narrow heart valves, or fluid surrounding the heart

Previous
Definition, Causes & Risk Factors

Quick Jump
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Next
Treatment & Expectations

Jump To Another Page

Review Date : 4/20/2009
Reviewed By : Jacob L. Heller, MD, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, Clinic. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Main Page of Pulmonary edema



Today's Top News Stories

Clinical Trials Update: Sept. 2, 2010 - Sep 02, 2010, 10:13

East Coast Residents Should Prepare for Hurricane Earl: FEMA - Sep 02, 2010, 12:00
Feds advise shoring up homes, storing water and food, and monitoring radio, TV.

Seniors Get Boost From Bad News About the Young - Sep 02, 2010, 14:00
Study found older people preferred negative stories about younger folks.

Health Care Reform Helps Small Businesses Offer Coverage: Report - Sep 02, 2010, 12:00
Tax credits, new options will leave more employees insured, Commonwealth Fund study says.

Proximity Affects Influence of Online 'Health Buddies' - Sep 02, 2010, 14:00
Study finds long-distance friends less likely to sway behavior than close-knit social networks.

ADAM

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial reviewers. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.
This site complies to the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
Copyright © 2010 AllRefer.com All Rights reserved.
Health Topics: A-Al Am-Az B C-Cj Ck-Cz D E F G H I J K L M N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sl Sm-Sz T U V W X Y Z 0-9
About Us | Help | Privacy Policy | Editorial Policy | Advertising Policy | Accessibility | Terms of Use
Contact Us | Link to Us | User Satisfaction Survey | Healthopedia.com
Page Last Updated: 02 Sep, 2010