The space in between the lining of the lung and lining of the chest cavity is called the pleural space. “As we breathe, there’s a thin layer of pleural fluid that allows for ease of movement between those two linings.” Lee Health Nurse Practitioner Arnold Facklam said sometimes that fluid can enlarge. When that happens, patients experience something called a pleural effusion. “Once it enlarges, it’s pushing on the lung, and you become short of breath because of that…This can continue to the point where it can even move the insides of the chest cavity, like your heart, and the middle area called the Pneumomediastinum and push it over.”
Symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, being easily winded and fever. Tools like blood work and CT scans can help find them. They are more common among people with certain medical conditions like “Congestive heart failure, because of an infection, people who have Pneumonia can develop pleural effusion, cancer,” said Facklam.
Treatment for a pleural effusion depends on what is causing the problem. “If it’s the heart, then taking a diuretic or what people say is a water pill can help to pull that fluid out of the area it’s in.” If it’s an infection, “Give antibiotics. If it’s a virus, give antiviral,” said Facklam. There are about 200,000 cases of pleural effusions in the US every year. Speak with your doctor if you’re experiencing symptoms.
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