Coughing brings up blood y, frothy material. The fluid in the alveoli interferes with the absorption of oxygen by circulating blood, and the skin turns pale or bluish. Associations Pulmonary edema usually is a symptom of either a heart attack or of diseased heart valves that cause inefficient pumping by the left side of the heart. In rare cases exposure to high altitude can cause pulmonary edema. Relief of symptoms Typical emergency treatment for pulmonary edema begins with the administration of oxygen through a face mask or a breathing tube inserted into the trachea .
Blood pressure is monitored.
A medication such as morphine sulfate might be given intravenously to reduce anxiety, dilate blood vessels, and relieve congestion . An incision might be made in a vein to remove possibly as much as a pint of blood, also to lower fluid volume. In addition, the doctor would work to determine and treat the underlying cause of the pulmonary edema.