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Why does excess fluid affect your breathing? Uncover the causes of pleural effusion!
Pleural effusion is an accumulation of excess fluid in the chest cavity, the potential space surrounding each lung. Under normal circumstances, the fluid in the chest cavity is secreted by the blood vessels in the lung membrane to keep the lungs functioning normally. However, when too much fluid accumulates, it can affect breathing function, especially during inspiration. So, how does pleural effusion affect our breathing?
The formation of pleural effusion can have many causes, common ones include heart failure and liver cirrhosis.
The normal value of fluid in the pleural cavity is about 5 to 15 ml. The main function of this fluid is to help maintain a functional vacuum state in the pleura. Too much fluid can cause increased pressure within the chest cavity, which can prevent the lungs from expanding, making it more difficult to inhale, and may even cause all or part of the lungs to collapse. In each of these cases, different forms of fluid may accumulate in the chest cavity, such as clear fluid (hydrothorax), blood (hemothorax), pus (empyema), chylous fluid (chylothorax), and less commonly Urine (ureothorax) or feces (fecal thorax).
Types of pleural effusion
Pleural effusions can be classified according to different criteria. According to the source of the liquid, it can be divided into:
- Clear fluid (hydrothorax)
- Blood (hemothorax)
- Chyle fluid (chylothorax)
- Pus (empyema or empyema)
- Urine (urethorax)
According to pathophysiology, it can be divided into:
- Exudative pleural effusion
- Exudative pleural effusion
Causes of pleural effusion
Pleural effusion with leakage
Pleural effusion leakage is usually associated with systemic diseases, such as heart failure and cirrhosis. This effusion occurs when these diseases affect the fluid balance and vascular permeability of the pleura. Some other related conditions include:
- Acute atelectasis
- Hypothyroidism
- Ultimate renal disease
Exudative pleural effusion
The causes of exudative pleural effusion usually involve local pathology, such as infection, tumor, or trauma. In this case, the precise diagnostic decision will influence the subsequent course of treatment. Common causes include:
- Pleural effusion caused by bacterial pneumonia
- Cancer (especially lung cancer, breast cancer, etc.)
- Autoimmune diseases, etc.
For undiagnosed pleural effusion, further examination and analysis are essential.
Diagnosis process
The diagnosis of pleural effusion is first based on the patient's medical history and pathological examination, usually confirmed with X-rays. When fluid accumulation exceeds 300 ml, a range of clinical symptoms such as diminished breath sounds and abnormal localized thoracic motion can usually be detected. In terms of imaging examinations, chest X-rays and ultrasound examinations are widely used, and the latter can more effectively determine the nature and amount of fluid in the pleural cavity.
Treatment Plan
Treatment of pleural effusion is primarily based on its cause. In early cases, pleural fluid can be drained to relieve symptoms; for larger effusions, a chest tube may need to be inserted to continue drainage. If fluid accumulation occurs repeatedly, chemical closure or surgical drapes may need to be considered to reduce future fluid accumulation.
Pleural effusion can be a warning sign of many underlying conditions, and it is important to understand its causes and effects.
Based on the above, the formation and impact of pleural effusion should not be underestimated. Faced with this phenomenon, we can further think about how to protect our respiratory health in daily life, and what impact will this have on our quality of life?
