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A member asked:

Why don't lungs fail during pulmonary edema?

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Douglas Arenberg answered

Specializes in Pulmonary Critical Care

They often do: Pulmonary edema is one of the most common causes of respiratory failure. That's why we have ventilators and icus. Less severe cases of pulmonary edema can be tolerated well enough to avoid respiratory failure. Just like a rain, its a matter of degree. You can have a light shower, or a deluge and flash-flooding.

Answered 4/25/2012

5.9k views

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If you have postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (pots)....Can it cause shortness of breathe? Mild edema in lungs? Feeling off balance? Help!

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