A collapsed lung, or pneumothorax, can be caused by chest injuries or lung diseases, and symptoms include shortness of breath and chest pain. A doctor must diagnose and treat the condition, which can be fatal if left untreated. Ongoing visits to the doctor are necessary to monitor the condition.
A collapsed lung occurs when air builds up between the chest wall and the lung. When this happens, the lung will not be able to expand and breathing will become painful. The medical term for this condition is pneumothorax.
A lung usually collapses due to a direct injury to the chest, but on occasion the condition can occur without cause. Chest injuries can result in broken ribs or a punctured lung. Damage without injury can include asthma, pneumonia, and other lung diseases. Cigarette smoking has also been linked to the condition.
Symptoms of a collapsed lung include shortness of breath and severe chest pain. There may also be a continuous severe cough and pain in the shoulder muscles may be felt. The sufferer’s pulse may become rapid and veins may protrude from the neck.
If these symptoms appear, consult a doctor immediately. A doctor should be called even if the symptoms are only temporary. The pain can have serious underlying causes.
A doctor must conduct a series of tests to diagnose a collapsed lung. These include X-rays and, if needed, a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest. A pneumothorax can be missed by just one x-ray. Symptoms can be relieved in the short term by pressing a pillow against the chest wall. This will ease the pain if the collapse was caused by chest and rib injuries.
A more serious type of collapsed lung is called a tension pneumothorax. With a tension pneumothorax, air will begin to build up under pressure and can cause serious damage to the cardiovascular area. Severe hypotension will occur, and if left untreated, the condition can be fatal.
Treatment for a severe collapsed lung is to remove trapped air through a needle inserted into the chest area. The needle is attached to a tube and the decompression removes the air from the chest cavity. Even a simple pneumothorax can be treated this way.
Once the lung has been treated, ongoing visits to the doctor are required. X-rays and physical exams will continue until your doctor gives you the all-clear. If the collapsed lung isn’t the result of an injury, there’s a 50 percent chance it will recur.
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