Whenever I see discussion of heart issues there’s always talk about how fluid builds up in the chest, which compresses the heart and lungs and makes it harder for them to function.
What is that fluid? Where does it come from? Is it blood? Mucus? How does it get there? I’ve never really understood why a weak heart would cause excess fluid in the chest cavity, but I would like to learn.
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There is a sac around the heart that can fill with fluid like pus due to infections, for instance. If too much fluid builds up, it impedes the ability of the heart to beat properly, and starts to apply pressure to the lungs.
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