The pulmonary edema It is a more common condition than it may seem, which affects many people and which, on some occasions, can lead to the death of the patient who suffers from it. The last to suffer from it was Jorge Javier Vazquezwho had to be hospitalized for this disease during his last trip to Peru.
The television presenter suffered from what is known as altitude sickness, a common disorder that especially affects climbers, hikers, skiers or travelers at high altitudes and that produces a lack of oxygen. As a result of this condition, he ended up having to deal with pulmonary edema that made it difficult for him to breathe and forced him to undergo four hyperbaric chamber sessions.
But what does pulmonary edema really consist of, the disease for which the television presenter ended up being hospitalized during his time in the South American country?
What is pulmonary edema?
Pulmonary edema occurs when there is a excess fluid present in the lungswhich can accumulate in the air bags of this organ, making it difficult to breathe.
Mostly these are caused by Heart problems and, specifically, they occur when there is heart failure. This happens when the heart can’t pump blood properly throughout the body, creating a reservoir of pressure in the small blood vessels of the lungs and causing the release of fluid.
However, apart from non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, fluid can also end up accumulating in the lungs for other reasons. These include the pneumoniacontact with certain toxins, medications, trauma to the chest wall, and exposure to high altitude locations.
The most common is that this condition develops suddenly and it is easy to identify if we take into account the following symptoms:
Difficulty breathing (dyspnea) or excessive shortness of breath
feeling of suffocation
Coughing up foamy sputum and/or blood
Irregular and rapid heartbeat (palpitations)
Anxiety and agitation
cold and clammy skin
Wheezing or wheezing
However, this pulmonary edema does not necessarily have to occur suddenly. In fact, the signs of pulmonary edema can vary if it becomes a chronic problem for the patient who suffers from it.
Cough or feeling short of breath at night
Difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Shortness of breath when doing physical activity
New or worsening cough
rapid weight gain
Swelling in the legs and feet
chest wheeze
On the other hand, pulmonary edema can also occur when the person in question is exposed to a high altitude, so that hypoxemia (decreased oxygen in the blood). This disorder is known as high altitude pulmonary edema (APGA) and can commonly occur in adults and children who travel or exercise at high altitudes.