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for the lung to collapse. This is a similar process to what happens if the blockage was caused by an external object. Lung collapse due to a tumor typically means that the tumor has advanced to a reasonably severe stage. It is unlikely that a cancer in the chest would first be detected because a lung collapsed. Odds are you would have some other symptoms before direct damage to the lung was suffered.

Symptoms

There are specific symptoms that a person will experience if they are suffering from a partial or complete collapse of their lung. Chest pain is an extremely common symptom. A person will also experience rapid, shallow breathing. They will become a rapidly short of breath. The severity of the symptoms will depend on how much of the lung capacity has been lost.

Signs of systemic shock are not uncommon if a large portion of the lung capacity has been lost. Shock presents with a rapid heartbeat, pale skin, low blood pressure, and weakness.

If the collapse of the lung is more gradual, a person might not experience shock or chest pain. Instead they will become progressively shorter of breath, and possibly begin coughing. In some cases of a collapsed lung which may be caused by an infection, a fever will develop.

Treatment

Your doctor will diagnose a collapsed lung with a variety of tests. It is possible to measure the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood. This can tell a doctor if your blood is getting enough oxygen. Chest x-rays can be useful to look at the physical structure of the lung. Treatment is initially supportive. This ensures that a person is breathing sufficiently. Once a person is stabilized, it becomes important to determine the underlying cause of the collapse lung, and to correct that problem.

If the cause of the collapse lung is suspected to be a foreign object such as a toy, a procedure known as a bronchoscopy can be done to remove it. Infections causing a collapsed lung will be treated with antibiotics in almost all cases. Antibiotics given to just about every patient with a collapsed lung. This is because the damage to the lung during the collapse leaves a person at very high risk of infection.

In most cases a collapsed lung is correctable condition. It is important however to determine the underlying cause of the lung collapse and to fix that problem. Not doing so will leave a person at risk for developing another collapsed lung in the future.

If you begin to experience any of the signs or symptoms of a collapsed lung, it is important to speak with a physician as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if the cause of your problem is due to a collapsed lung, or due to some other medical condition.

Learn more about this author, Erich Rosenberger M.D..
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