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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Assessment of Pulmonary Capillary Blood Volume, Membrane Diffusing Capacity, and Intrapulmonary Arteriovenous Anastomoses During Exercise
Published on: February 20, 2017
Pulmonary oedema following exercise in humans
Alastair N H Hodges1, John R Mayo, Donald C McKenzie
1School of Human Kinetics and Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. hodges@interchange.ubc.ca
Pulmonary edema may occur in some individuals after strenuous exercise due to increased pulmonary arterial pressure. Further research is needed to confirm this finding and understand its implications for exercise physiology.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Respiratory System Dynamics
Background:
- Exercise induces physiological changes in the respiratory system.
- Transient alterations in lung function, such as incomplete arterial oxygen saturation, have been observed post-exercise.
- Increased pulmonary arterial pressure during exercise may lead to increased pulmonary capillary leakage or stress failure, potentially causing elevated extravascular lung water.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing research on exercise-induced changes in lung water.
- To evaluate the evidence for pulmonary edema following physical exertion.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating lung water content after exercise.
- Analysis of findings from studies measuring extravascular lung water post-exercise or similar interventions.
Main Results:
- A limited number of studies have specifically addressed pulmonary edema following exercise.
- Approximately 50% of these studies reported a positive change in extravascular lung water.
- The remaining studies yielded inconclusive results or showed no significant change.
Conclusions:
- Evidence suggests that pulmonary edema can occur in some individuals after exercise.
- This phenomenon is of considerable interest to pulmonary and exercise physiologists.
- More precise measurement techniques are required for definitive conclusions and further investigation.
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