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Pneumothorax: causes, symptoms and treatment

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

A lung disorder that occurs when air leaks from the lungs is a pneumothorax. This disorder, also called lung collapse, has a significant impact on the respiratory and hemodynamic mechanics of the body. The origin of the failure can be external, due to a perforation in the chest wall, or internal, due to a hole in one of the lungs.

In this pathology, the air fills the space outside the lung, between it and the rib cage. When air accumulates in that place, pressure is exerted on the lung, causing it not to be able to expand as it usually happens when breathing naturally.

Although this alteration does not usually put the patient’s life at risk, the treatment must be indicated and diagnosed quickly for immediate attention. This is why you must consult a doctor if you have any questions. If you do not know much about this disorder, at FastlyHealwe, provides you with all the information about Pneumothorax: causes, symptoms, and treatment.

Table of Contents

pneumothorax: causes

One of the leading causes of Pneumothorax is an injury to the lung. These can happen from a gunshot or knife wound to the chest, a break in one rib bones, traffic accidents, or some medical procedures.

In other cases, the collapse in the lung can be caused by air blisters, known as vesicles, which rupture and send air into the space around the lung. This situation can result from changes in air pressure, which can occur in conditions such as diving or traveling at high altitudes.

Although Pneumothorax can affect anyone, those tall and thin or are smokers are more likely to suffer from this condition. On the other hand, pneumopathies can also considerably increase the possibility of suffering a lung collapse. These include asthmatuberculosiswhooping coughcystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD.

Despite all the above, there are some cases in which Pneumothorax appears without any apparent cause, which is why it is known as spontaneous lung collapse.

Main symptoms of Pneumothorax

The most common symptoms that appear in Pneumothorax include:

  • Severe chest pain
  • Very painful cough
  • Pain when you breathe deeply
  • Nasal flaring

A significant lung collapse has more severe symptoms, such as:

  • Bluish discoloration can be seen on the skin due to a lack of oxygen
  • Dizziness and lightheadedness
  • Chest tightness
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Tendency to fatigue.

Spontaneous Pneumothorax: treatment

When you have a small pneumothorax, it may go away on its own with time, requiring only rest and oxygen treatment; however, in any case, it is essential to go to a medical consultation to carry out the corresponding check-ups.

The specialist can remove the extra air around the lungs using a needle so that, in this way, the essential organ of the respiratory system can expand usually. This chest tube can be left for several days, so it is necessary to stay in place with constant medical supervision. If it is a small chest tube or a flap valve, the doctor may allow you to return home, although days later, you have to return to the hospital so that they can remove what was used in the treatment.

Depending on the case of lung collapse, it might be necessary to resort to surgery, and in this way, future episodes will also be avoided. With this, a repair is sought in the area where the leak occurred, and, sometimes, a chemical is placed on this affected part, causing a scar to form. The name knows this treatment of pleurodesis.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Pneumothorax: causes, symptoms, and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Lung and respiratory tract category .

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