This condition triggers when the lungs are filled with fluid instead of air.
Wet lung can affect anyone regardless of age.
It is a medical emergency and it can be life-threatening if left untreated.
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If you show any signs or symptoms of low oxygen or lung injury, seek medical care right away.
The condition is serious and can lead to organ failure or death.
When you breathe air into your lungs, it enters ducts that deliver it to the alveoli.
Oxygen passes through small blood vessels in the alveoli and into the bloodstream.
From there, oxygen is transported to your heart, liver, kidneys, brain, and other organs.
This interferes with the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs.
Many different conditions and illnesses can lead to wet lung/ARDS.
These may include:
What Increases Your Risk
Wet lung can happen for many reasons.
Some people are more at risk of developing ARDS, or conditions that lead to it, than others.
Smoking can also cause damage to the alveoli that makes it hard for your lungs to clear fluid.
Environmental factors:Long-term exposure to toxic chemicals or pollution can cause lung damage that builds up over time.
Age:Wet lung can also become a more likely possibility with age.
As you get older, both your lung function and immune response can weaken.
This can make it harder to fight off infections that could lead to ARDS.
Chemotherapy:ARDS has been linked tochemotherapy.
How Wet Lung Is Diagnosed
There is no specific test for ARDS.
They will also ask you about your symptoms and whether you have an existing heart or lung condition.
First, youroxygen levelandblood pressurewill be measured.
Pulse oximetryis used to assess your blood oxygen levels.
Low levels of oxygen in the blood are also a sign of ARDS.
Your healthcare provider may also check your blood for signs of infection, or heart and kidney problems.
Fluid in the air sacs of the lungs can confirm ARDS.
Anechocardiogramorelectrocardiogram,both heart function tests, can rule out heart conditions that mimic ARDS.
Alung biopsymay be done to help rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms.
This involves taking a sample of tissue from the lung and having it examined under a microscope.
Wet Lung Treatment
There is no cure for wet lung.
Instead, the condition is treated by managing symptoms.
This may involve breathing support, medications, or other therapies.
Treatment is different for each person.
Milder cases may only requiresupplemental oxygen(delivered through a mask that fits over the nose and mouth).
Finally, the body may be positioned facedown to help more oxygen get into the lungs.
Medications
Medications can relieve symptoms of wet lung by treating the underlying causes and preventing complications.
Some people with wet lung will need additional hospital visits.
ensure you are asking for help from loved ones, especially when you first come home from the hospital.
While recovering from ARDS, you should do everything it’s possible for you to to protect your lungs.
Obesity appears to increase this risk.
Most people recover from ARDS, but it can be fatal.
This interferes with airflow in the lungs and oxygen transfer to the rest of the body.
Organ failure and, in some cases, death can result.
ARDS can develop suddenly and cause damage quickly.
Seek medical care right away if they occur.
Treatments can help manage symptoms and help you recover, though their effectiveness depends on the case.
In some cases, their lips might turn blue (cyanosis).
The time it takes for wet lung to get better depends on what’s causing it.
Wet lung can also be a chronic problem.
Most people recover from wet lung, but about 30% to 40% of cases are fatal.
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