What is Pneumothorax?

A pneumothorax is collection of air or gas in the the space surrounding the lungs, a.k.a. pleural space.

Types of Pneumothorax:

There are several types of Pneumothorax, classified by cause as follows:

• Spontaneous Pneumothorax

  This is when the pneumothorax occurs without a clear cause.

  • Primary spontaneous pneumothorax

    This is the case when there is no known underlying lung disease. This disease usually affects tall, thin men between 20 and 40 years of age. Cigarette smoking and family history are also contributing factors.

  • Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax

    Often results from complications due to an underlying pulmonary disease such as asthma, chronic cough, cystic fibrosis, COPD, and tuberculosis.

• Traumatic pneumothorax

  Traumatic pneumothorax results from a traumatic injusy to the chest.

• Tension pneumothorax

  Tension pneumothorax is caused by excessive pressure build up around the lung, leading to collapse of lung(s).

Pneumothorax Symptoms:

• Sudden and sharp chest pain,
• Pain worsens by deep breathing
• Pain worsens by coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness
• Fatigue

Pneumothorax Treatment:

Treatment for Pneumothorax primarily focuses on removal the air/gas from the pleural space, thereby allowing the lung(s) adequate breathing-space.

Don't forget to check out Lung Disease News section of this website for the latest Pneumothorax Treatment News, and our Lung Disease Articles Library for the latest Pneumothorax Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Prognosis related Articles.

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