Pulmonary edema

Pulmonary edema most often occurs in older people from prolonged lying, as well as in patients who are forced to stay in bed for a long time for health reasons. Edema manifests itself in the form of wheezing, shortness of breath due to the accumulation of fluid in the lungs, as well as a severe cough with foamy sputum.

At the first signs of edema, it is necessary to raise the patient to a semi-sitting position, give him strong coffee and apply mustard plasters to the hands and feet, as well as dry jars to the back. If possible, you should urgently call a doctor, because every minute counts. However, while waiting for the doctor, from the medications available at home, you should give essential-valerian drops (20 drops with water) or strophanthus (2-3 times a day, 4-8-10 drops, depending on the condition) every half hour.

In the absence of the necessary drugs, you can give a glass of vodka every hour until it becomes easier. It is also useful to give a stimulating enema of equal parts water and vinegar (but not essence!).

After an attack, expectorants (but not emetics) are prescribed, for example, a decoction of anise seeds with honey - a teaspoon of seeds is boiled in a glass of water with a spoon of honey. To prevent edema, a seriously ill patient must be carefully turned from side to side several times a day, if the nature of the disease allows this.

Pulmonary edema OEDEMA PULMONUM

**Pulmonary edema** (pulmonary edema; lat. *oedēma pulmonum*), or **alveolar hypoxia** (lat. *hypoxa alveolares*) - acute expansion of the lumen of the alveoli (alveolar edema) against the background of blood plasma leaking into the alveoli and bronchi, accompanied by damage to the pulmonary capillaries and increased permeability of the walls of the alveoli and small bronchi. The result of hemodynamic disturbances in the pulmonary circulation. Characterized by shortness of breath, cyanosis, and usually rapid, shallow breathing. The acute form of pulmonary edema, developing over 24-72 hours, is called catastrophic (irreversible) pulmonary edema (hypoxic cardiogenically caused by acute left ventricular failure.).

Diagnostics and differential diagnosis During auscultation of the lungs, hard breathing, scattered dry rales, whistling and fine-bubbly wet rales are heard above the lungs in the lower-posterior parts of both lungs. There is crepitation upon percussion of the chest, which confirms the presence of esudative pleurisy. Tachycardia, tension or high tone of the neck muscles, mydriasis, flattening of the apical impulse, and the symptom of “cat purring” are noted. Enhanced sonorous bronchial breathing is detected above the lungs. The boundaries of relative cardiac dullness are not shifted. An intermittent or periodically occurring systolic murmur at the apex of the heart, epigastric pulsation, and an additional left subclavian artery are detected. There is increased lability of blood pressure, increased body temperature, hectic fever, hepatic and uremic toxicity, increased resistance of the pulmonary capillaries, and impaired vital functions (the appearance of signs of shock). Differential diagnosis is carried out with severe forms of pneumonia and lobar pneumonia, peripheral persistent hypoxia, bronchiolitis with an asthmatic component and pulmonary emphysema, thromboembolic