BODY SIGNAL ALERT: SHORTNESS OF BREATH WITH COUGH, PINKISH SPUTUM, AND WHEEZING
Description and Possible Medical Problems
If you suddenly become short of breath and simultaneously begin to cough up a pinkish sputum, you need to call 911 for immediate medical attention. You may also be sweating, pale, and wheezing.
These are all signs of acute pulmonary edema, in which the lungs begin to fill with water. Acute pulmonary edema can be caused by a dietary change, a sudden change in or cessation of a medication, a reaction from mixing two or more kinds of medication, or a heart attack or change in heart rhythm. If you have phlebitis, acute pulmonary edema can also be the result of a clot that travels from the veins of the legs into the lung, a condition known as pulmonary embolus.
Acute pulmonary edema is a life-and-death situation, and immediate medical attention is necessary. While waiting for medical help, the most important thing to do is to keep a sitting position. If you have any diuretics or water pills at home, there is no harm in taking two of these pills immediately.
Regardless of the cause of acute pulmonary edema, once professional help is on the scene, the treatment for acute pulmonary edema includes the injection of a diuretic, such as Lasix, which will remove excess fluid from your body, meaning the heart has to work less, and nitrates, which reduce the amount of effort the heart has to make. In severe cases, it will be necessary to put you on ventilator support.
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