Imagine having to paddle as hard as you can to stay above water to keep you from drowning. Now think of something even worse-drowning from within as fluid fills up in your pleural cavity, preventing your lungs from expanding with oxygen. This condition is known as pleural effusion.
Our torso is basically divided into two halves. The bottom portion is the abdomen, and it contains things like the stomach and intestines. The top half is the part that holds your lungs. The torso is divided by the diaphragm, which is the large muscle that helps lungs to expand and contract. The cavity that holds the lungs is called the thoracic cavity, and the area surrounding the lungs is called the pleural space.
The lining that covers the lungs is part of the mesothelium, and the specialized lung lining is called the pleura. The pleura is in charge of secreting a slippery liquid that keeps the lungs from rubbing up against the rib cage and inside of the chest cavity. This liquid acts as a lubricant to keep friction from damaging the lungs. The lubrication is both produced and absorbed by lymphatic system, which is capable of draining up to 300 milliliters of the fluid at any one time. However, the average amount of fluid between the pleural lining of the lungs and the rest of the body is about 15 ml.
While pleural effusion in itself is not a disease, it can be caused by several different afflictions. Some causes of pleural effusion include:
Congestive heart failure
Bacterial infection such as pyrothorax or empyema
Pneumonia
Breast cancer
Ovarian cancer
Lung cancer
Lymphatic cancer
Mesothelioma
With heart failure, the buildup can be caused by poor circulation. With lymphatic and other cancers, the lymphatic system can be so weakened that it cannot drain away the pleural fluid. Mesothelioma is a particular type of cancer that affects the pleural lining, causing tumors to spread throughout the mesothelium. This can disrupt the pleural lining's ability to regulate its output of the lubricating fluid.
When the pleural fluid accumulates, it can fill up the space surrounding the lungs. The lungs are then restricted in the amount that they can expand. Additionally, the fluid can build up to the point that the lubrication itself is pressing on the lungs, which basically amounts to your lungs constantly being forced into an exhalation state. Pleural effusion can cause coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. It can eventually lead to suffocation of the person with the problem.
Pleural effusion is an uncomfortable and dangerous condition that can be caused by asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos. If you or someone you know has developed pleural effusion due to mesothelioma, you should speak to a lawyer about your rights to possible financial compensation. For more information, contact a mesothelioma attorney at the firm of Williams Kherkher today.
Our torso is basically divided into two halves. The bottom portion is the abdomen, and it contains things like the stomach and intestines. The top half is the part that holds your lungs. The torso is divided by the diaphragm, which is the large muscle that helps lungs to expand and contract. The cavity that holds the lungs is called the thoracic cavity, and the area surrounding the lungs is called the pleural space.
The lining that covers the lungs is part of the mesothelium, and the specialized lung lining is called the pleura. The pleura is in charge of secreting a slippery liquid that keeps the lungs from rubbing up against the rib cage and inside of the chest cavity. This liquid acts as a lubricant to keep friction from damaging the lungs. The lubrication is both produced and absorbed by lymphatic system, which is capable of draining up to 300 milliliters of the fluid at any one time. However, the average amount of fluid between the pleural lining of the lungs and the rest of the body is about 15 ml.
While pleural effusion in itself is not a disease, it can be caused by several different afflictions. Some causes of pleural effusion include:
Congestive heart failure
Bacterial infection such as pyrothorax or empyema
Pneumonia
Breast cancer
Ovarian cancer
Lung cancer
Lymphatic cancer
Mesothelioma
With heart failure, the buildup can be caused by poor circulation. With lymphatic and other cancers, the lymphatic system can be so weakened that it cannot drain away the pleural fluid. Mesothelioma is a particular type of cancer that affects the pleural lining, causing tumors to spread throughout the mesothelium. This can disrupt the pleural lining's ability to regulate its output of the lubricating fluid.
When the pleural fluid accumulates, it can fill up the space surrounding the lungs. The lungs are then restricted in the amount that they can expand. Additionally, the fluid can build up to the point that the lubrication itself is pressing on the lungs, which basically amounts to your lungs constantly being forced into an exhalation state. Pleural effusion can cause coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. It can eventually lead to suffocation of the person with the problem.
Pleural effusion is an uncomfortable and dangerous condition that can be caused by asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos. If you or someone you know has developed pleural effusion due to mesothelioma, you should speak to a lawyer about your rights to possible financial compensation. For more information, contact a mesothelioma attorney at the firm of Williams Kherkher today.
Joseph Devine Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine |
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