When a hole develops in the lungs that allows air to escape, this causes a build up of air or gas in the space between the lung and the chest wall (the pleural space).
The inner part of the lung needs lung pressure to remain open, if this air escapes (between lung and chest wall) this causes the air pushes on the outside of your lung and makes it collapse.
Depending of the size of the hole and or how much air has escaped one can have mild to severe symptoms from partial collapse to total collapse, hence symptoms may take time to appear.
Cause
Family history
Lung injury – stabbed, hard hit to lungs, accident, broken ribs
Surgery and/or biopsy of the lungs
Occur without cause
Deformity or weakness in lungs
Use of ventilators in heart failure and/or severe breathing conditions
Sudden air pressure changes (this can put pressure on the heart) i.e scuba diving and/or traveling to a high altitude, mountain climbing
Tall young males (between ages 10-30)
Catamenial pneumothorax (females) – Endometrial tissue becomes attached to the thorax (chest tissue) and forms cysts. The cysts can release blood and air that enters the pleural space.
Catamenial pneumothorax (females only) – recurrent episodes of pneumothorax that occur within 72 hours before or after the start of menstruation.
If condition occurs again after medical treatment (especially with in last 30 days)
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Pneumothorax in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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