5 Symptoms of Pleural Effusion

Pleural effusion is the abnormal accumulation of excess fluid in the space between your lungs and chest cavity. Sometimes referred to as “water on the lungs,” this common condition affects more than 1.5 million people in the United States each year. 

At Fivestar Pulmonary Associates in Allen, McKinney, and Plano, Texas, our seasoned team of board-certified pulmonologists specializes in getting to the bottom of the kind of worrisome but otherwise non-specific respiratory symptoms that can indicate a range of underlying health problems — including pleural effusion. 

Read on as we discuss the ins and outs of this potentially dangerous condition, including five warning signs that should prompt you to seek expert evaluation and care. 

Understanding pleural effusion 

Pleural effusion is the buildup of excess fluid between the thin layers of tissue (pleura) that cover the outer surface of your lungs and line the inner surface of your chest cavity. There’s always a small amount of fluid in these thin membranes, which function to help lubricate your lungs as they expand within your chest when you breathe. 

 Pleural effusion can be a side effect of many underlying conditions, most of which are serious and either require prompt treatment or improved management. Fluid buildup on your lungs falls into two categories:

Transudative effusion

Transudative effusion occurs when watery, protein-poor fluid leaks into the pleural space because of high blood pressure or a low blood protein count. While it can be a product of liver damage (cirrhosis) or a pulmonary embolism, most cases are due to congestive heart failure. 

Exudative effusion 

Exudative effusion occurs when protein-rich fluid leaks into the pleural space because of blocked blood or lymph vessels, inflammation, lung injury or infection, or malignant tumors. Pneumonia, cancer, kidney disease, a pulmonary embolism, and inflammatory autoimmune diseases are possible causes of exudative effusion. 

Pleural effusion warning signs

Just as fluid buildup around your lungs can be mild or severe, symptoms can range from none to persistent and intense. Essentially, the greater the buildup of fluid on your lungs, the more likely you are to experience noticeable warning signs that there’s a problem. 

Five common symptoms of pleural effusion are:

1. Chest pain

Pleural effusion leads to chest pain by putting pressure on your expanding lungs every time you take a breath and by causing other tissues in your chest cavity to become painfully inflamed. In severe cases, a person may have up to four liters of excess fluid in their chest cavity, which is akin to having two soda bottles wedged between your lungs and chest wall. 

 Besides dealing with general chest discomfort, people with pleural effusion may experience a sharp pain in their chest that gets worse with a deep breath or coughing. 

2. Dry cough

One of the most common symptoms, a cough can be triggered by everything from seasonal allergies, post-nasal drip, and acid reflux to acute respiratory infection, asthma, and chronic lung disease. 

But when a dry (non-productive) cough lasts longer than three or four weeks — especially when it occurs with chest pain or shortness of breath — it may be a warning sign of pleural effusion. 

3. Dyspnea 

Shortness of breath that emerges slowly — meaning it gradually worsens over weeks or months — is called chronic dyspnea. Although it can be a product of many different health problems, persistent and progressive shortness of breath is a frequent symptom of pleural effusion. 

When shortness of breath is driven by pleural effusion, you may feel like your chest is always tight, you can’t get enough air into your lungs (a sensation known as “air hunger”), or you must work harder to breathe normally. 

4. Orthopnea 

Shortness of breath or breathing difficulty that happens when you’re lying down is called orthopnea. Most people who experience orthopnea breathe easily once they sit up or stand. This symptom is a common warning sign of pleural effusion caused by heart failure.

5. Fever and chills

Pleural effusion can also cause a long-lasting low-grade fever along with body chills. 

Worried about pleural effusion?

Fluid buildup around your lungs can masquerade as something less worrisome, but what may seem like chest pain or coughing due to a bad cold could have serious health ramifications. If you’re experiencing any of the warning signs of possible pleural effusion, schedule a visit with our team as soon as possible. 

Most of the time, the best way to treat pleural effusion is by addressing its underlying cause. For example, if our evaluation reveals your pleural effusion is caused by pneumonia, we may begin treatment by prescribing antibiotics to clear up the infection — which should also cause the fluid to dissipate. 

 A pleural effusion that’s causing significant respiratory symptoms can typically benefit from an immediate fluid-draining procedure called a therapeutic thoracentesis. 

Are you experiencing symptoms of a possible pleural effusion? Fivestar Pulmonary Associates is here to help. Call or click online to schedule a visit at our office nearest you today.