Can pneumothorax measure lung capacity?

Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

Updated on October 28, 2024

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Pneumothorax is a very common type of disease, caused by many and complex factors. It is classified into three different types based on individual conditions, so different types of pneumothorax lead to different clinical symptoms and consequences for the patient. Usually, it is not advisable to measure lung capacity immediately after a pneumothorax occurs. For lighter cases, it is recommended to wait at least half a month before measuring lung capacity. If the pneumothorax is severe, the interval may need to be over a month before conducting lung capacity measurements. Therefore, while patients with pneumothorax can have their lung capacity measured, this should only be done once the condition is effectively managed.

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Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

54sec

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Are the symptoms of pneumothorax severe?

Pneumothorax is caused by a rupture of the pleura, allowing air to enter the pleural cavity. The severity of symptoms after suffering from pneumothorax can vary, with common symptoms including coughing, chest pain, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. The severity of symptoms largely depends on the amount of air in the pleural space. If the amount of air is small, symptoms might not be noticeable. However, with a larger amount of air, difficulty breathing can be quite severe. In cases of tension pneumothorax, the symptoms can be extremely severe and may even lead to respiratory and circulatory failure in a short period. Patients often experience significant chest tightness, restlessness, dry skin, heavy sweating, and may even lose consciousness. Immediate treatment is necessary, as there could be a risk to life.

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Written by Zhang Zhi Gong

Cardiothoracic Surgery

1min 12sec

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Pneumothorax is more likely to recur in which season?

Regarding the seasonal issue of pneumothorax recurrence, the causes of pneumothorax vary among patients of different ages, so the seasons prone to recurrence are also not exactly the same. For young patients, pneumothorax tends to recur easily, often in thin and tall patients, usually related to recent colds and coughs, or intense physical activities like basketball, soccer, or seasons with more outdoor activities; these times are relatively more prone to recurrence. Particularly, the cooler seasons of spring and fall are also prone to recurrences. However, for elderly patients, the causes of pneumothorax recurrence are usually associated with smoking in older patients, or a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bullae. For these elderly patients, recurrences typically occur in the autumn and winter seasons. This is because the autumn and winter seasons are comparatively more problematic for patients with chronic bronchitis and obstructive lung diseases. Thus, pneumothorax recurrence in young people often happens more in the spring and autumn, while in older people, it occurs more in the autumn and winter seasons.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

28sec

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Pneumothorax, which department should it go to?

Which department is better for pneumothorax treatment? There isn't a strict definition dictating which specific department one must visit for pneumothorax. Generally, you can visit the respiratory department or the cardiothoracic surgery department. If the patient's condition is very severe, then the first choice should be the emergency department, where emergency treatment can be provided before further referral.

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Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

47sec

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Can you smoke with pneumothorax?

After suffering from pneumothorax, patients often experience symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, and coughing. Can patients smoke after suffering from pneumothorax? It is advised against smoking after suffering from pneumothorax, as smoke and harmful substances directly irritate the respiratory tract, worsening the patient's symptoms. Additionally, smoking produces a large amount of carbon monoxide, which, when absorbed by the body, can cause hypoxia, thereby exacerbating symptoms of breathing difficulty. Therefore, patients with pneumothorax should not smoke, and it is also recommended to quit smoking even after recovery from pneumothorax, as smoking is harmful in many ways and particularly damaging to the respiratory system.

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Written by Zhang Zhi Gong

Cardiothoracic Surgery

1min 23sec

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Foods to avoid with pneumothorax

We know that the lung tissue of a normal person is like a balloon. When breathing, this balloon expands and contracts, and there are about hundreds of millions of small structures in the lungs like balloons, which we call alveolar tissue. This structure also continuously expands and contracts, expelling carbon dioxide and inhaling oxygen. For certain reasons, such as infection or due to the body shape of tall, thin young people, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchitis in elderly people, this alveolar structure can rupture, causing some alveoli to merge into a large bulla. Of course, if the large bulla eventually ruptures, the break in this balloon-like surface will leak air into the pleural cavity, causing a pneumothorax. As for the nutrition from food, we believe that patients should not refrain from certain foods, but should instead increase their intake of protein, such as eating three to four egg whites daily. If worried about high cholesterol, discard the yolk, consuming only one yolk per day, but ensuring adequate protein intake. Therefore, for patients with pneumothorax, it is not about avoiding certain foods, but about eating more of those foods to which they are not allergic, such as shrimp and beef, rather than restricting their diet.