Four major symptoms of pneumothorax

People may not be very familiar with the disease of pneumothorax. This disease is not very common around us. Acute attacks cause breathing difficulties and sometimes are life-threatening. This disease mostly occurs in young and middle-aged people, mainly caused by rupture of the lung cannon, which allows the gas in the lungs to enter the chest cavity and cause a series of symptoms. Chest pain is the most common symptom of pneumothorax. Let us now take a closer look at the treatments for pneumothorax.

Pneumothorax refers to the entry of gas into the pleural cavity, causing gas accumulation. It is a common disease in daily life. What are the symptoms of pneumothorax? Below we will give you a detailed introduction to the four major symptoms of pneumothorax. Pneumothorax is a pulmonary emergency. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening, but it can be cured with timely treatment.

Common symptoms of pneumothorax

1. Difficulty breathing

When pneumothorax occurs, patients will experience dyspnea, the severity of which is related to the course of the attack, the degree of lung compression and the original lung function status. Young patients with normal respiratory function may not have obvious dyspnea. Even if the lungs are compressed by >80%, they may only feel slight chest tightness during activities. However, elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema may have obvious dyspnea even if the lungs are slightly compressed. In acute pneumothorax, the symptoms may be more obvious, while in chronic pneumothorax, the healthy lung can compensatory expand and the clinical symptoms may be milder.

2. Irritating cough

Spontaneous pneumothorax occasionally causes an irritating cough.

3. Chest pain

Sudden sharp stabbing and cutting pain often occurs when pneumothorax occurs. It has nothing to do with the sudden rupture of the bullae and the degree of lung compression, but may be related to increased pressure in the pleural cavity and stretching of the parietal pleura. The location of pain is uncertain and may be confined to the chest, or it may radiate to the shoulders, back, and upper abdomen. When significant mediastinal emphysema is present, persistent retrosternal pain may occur. Pain is the most common complaint of patients with pneumothorax and, in mild cases, may be the only symptom.

4. Other symptoms

When pneumothorax is combined with hemothorax, if the amount of bleeding is heavy, the patient will experience palpitations, low blood pressure, cold limbs, etc.

The above is an introduction to the symptoms of pneumothorax. Do you have a deeper understanding of pneumothorax? If you find the above symptoms in your daily life, you should go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment in time to avoid worsening of the condition. You should also actively prevent pneumothorax in your daily life.