Severity of symptoms may depend on how much of the lung is collapsed. Symptoms of a pneumothorax can be caused by a variety of health problems, and some can be life-threatening, so seek medical attention. If your chest pain is severe or breathing becomes increasingly difficult, get immediate emergency care. In general, men are far more likely to have a pneumothorax than women are.
The type of pneumothorax caused by ruptured air blisters is most likely to occur in people between 20 and 40 years old, especially if the person is very tall and underweight. Underlying lung disease or mechanical ventilation can be a cause or a risk factor for a pneumothorax. Other risk factors include:. Potential complications vary, depending on the size and severity of the pneumothorax as well as the cause and treatment.
Sometimes air may continue to leak if the opening in the lung won't close or pneumothorax may recur. Pneumothorax care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.
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Research Clinical Trials Journal Articles. Resources Reference Desk Find an Expert. For You Patient Handouts. Causes of a collapsed lung include Lung diseases such as pneumonia or lung cancer Being on a breathing machine Surgery on the chest or abdomen A blocked airway If only a small area of the lung is affected, you may not have symptoms. A chest x-ray can tell if you have it. You can decrease your risk by not smoking. Scuba diving and dysbarism. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Hallifax R, Rahman NM.
Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. Raja AS. Thoracic trauma. Editorial team. Collapsed lung pneumothorax. The medical name of this condition is pneumothorax. Tall, thin people and smokers are more at risk for a collapsed lung.
Lung diseases can also increase the chance of getting a collapsed lung. Common symptoms of a collapsed lung include: Sharp chest or shoulder pain, made worse by a deep breath or a cough Shortness of breath Nasal flaring from shortness of breath A larger pneumothorax causes more severe symptoms, including: Bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen Chest tightness Lightheadedness and near fainting Easy fatigue Abnormal breathing patterns or increased effort of breathing Rapid heart rate Shock and collapse.
Spontaneous pneumothorax can also occur in people who don't have lung disease. This happens when an air-filled blister bleb on the lung ruptures and releases air into the pleural space. People who smoke cigarettes are much more likely to develop a pneumothorax than those who don't. Also, the more you smoke, the greater your chances are of having a pneumothorax. Symptoms depend on the size of the pneumothorax.
In minor cases, you may not realize you have a pneumothorax. In more severe cases, symptoms will develop rapidly and may lead to shock. Symptoms may become worse with altitude changes such as flying in an airplane or going underground or underwater.
A pneumothorax usually is diagnosed through a physical examination and a chest X-ray. Your doctor may also perform blood tests to measure the level of oxygen in your blood. A computed tomography CT scan or ultrasound may be needed to diagnose the severity of your condition and help plan your treatment.
A minor pneumothorax may only require observation by your doctor; in some cases, oxygen may be given through a mask.
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