Question 1

can daily secondhand smoke cause spontaneous pneumothorax?

Accepted Answer

Potentially, YES: The risk factors for primary and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (sp) include: smoking (including marijuana), tall thin stature in otherwise healthy, connective tissue disorders, pregnancy, familial history. Lung inflammation is also hypothesized to be important. Significant exposure to second hand smoke is associated with lung injury, inflammation, cancer, etc...

Question 2

what is the most common cause of spontaneous pneumothorax?

Accepted Answer

Small blebs: Single or multiple small emphysematous blebs( appear like little blisters, or clusters of grapes )
ionesco or more pop like a ballon and air collects in the pleural space= pneumothorax.

Question 3

can living at a higher altitude cause spontaneous pneumothorax?

Accepted Answer

No: Pneumothorax is a risk with barotrauma occurring during rapid changes in pressure causing the lung to overexpand.  For example if a scuba diver is at depth takes a deep breath and comes up from the high pressure depth to low pressure at surface, the lungs will overexpand.  As pressure decreases, volume of air in lungs increase>barotrauma.  Living at constant pressure at high altitude is ok.

Question 4

help docs! i'm trying to find out what causes a spontaneous pneumothorax?

Accepted Answer

Pneumothorax: The most common cause are rupture of blebs or bullae, lymphangioleiomyomatosis as in catamenial pneumothorax, with some predisposing factors such as severe exertion and air trapping as in asthma can all cause non traumatic or spontaneous pneumothoraces.

Question 5

i have spontaneous pneumothorax. i smoke e-cigarette while im trying to quit smoking. is it bad for my health?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: Spontaneous pneumothorax in smokers is due to the chronic presence of inflammatory cells associated with smoking. These cells produce enzymes and other substances that weaken elastin and other lung proteins, resulting in areas prone to rupture. Not much is known yet about e-cigarettes.  However, a small study out of greece showed similar inflammatory changes with e-cigarettes. Bottom line - quit.

Question 6

in december  i had a spontaneous pneumothorax. i know i shouldn't, but if i were to smoke a cigarette or weed, what would happen to my lung? thank you

Accepted Answer

Pneumo: Once this occurred - u have 20-60% chance of having it again for no reason at all. Some exacerbating risk- factors may be strenuous exercise, chest trauma, poorly controlled lung dzz, chronic smoking etc. However, having an occasional cigarette and/weed- while not the best way to spend ur health- should not increase ur risk more than original statement. Good luck

Question 7

can i return to volleyball after suffering a spontaneous pneumothorax ?my pneumothorax happened during sleep, so sport is not a major cause?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Check with your doctor to make sure the pnemothorax is gone .These problems are more common in younger people.

Question 8

i am a 28 year old female who had a spontaneous pneumothorax in 2019. i have never smoked. i am 5ft 10inches and weigh 125 lbs. i had a vats surgery and have had no problems ever since. should i have any concern about carrying and birthing naturally?

Accepted Answer

: Another spontaneous pneumothorax can RARELY occur in the opposite lung but there is nothing you can do about it. You should live a normal life (except no smoking and avoid deep sea diving), nothing else to concern for what you can't help. Yes, you can be pregnant and have a normal vaginal delivery.

Question 9

could i get some information on a spontaneous pneumothorax?

Accepted Answer

Collapsed lung: Spontaneous pneumothorax is collapse of the lung due to air leaking out from the lung.  Spontaneous means that there is no obvious cause such as trauma.  In most cases, it would be treated initially with a chest tube, which will allow the lung to re-expand.  If it re-occurs or if the air leak does not seal, sometimes surgery is necessary.

Question 10

why are tall, slender men at higher risk for developing spontaneous pneumothorax?

Accepted Answer

Unknown reason: Spontaneous pneumothorax, where a lung leaks air (from a broken bleb) into the chest cavity space, occurs more often in persons with taller, slender bodies. The reason is not known, but maybe taller lungs develop blebs ("bubbles" with air just under the lung's covering) more easily, or break blebs more easily. Men may be affected more often because they are taller than women.

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Doctor answers about:

Can daily secondhand smoke cause spontaneous pneumothorax

A member asked:

Can daily secondhand smoke cause spontaneous pneumothorax?

A member asked:

What is the most common cause of spontaneous pneumothorax?

A member asked:

Can living at a higher altitude cause spontaneous pneumothorax?

A member asked:

Help docs! i'm trying to find out what causes a spontaneous pneumothorax?

A member asked:

I have spontaneous pneumothorax. i smoke e-cigarette while im trying to quit smoking. is it bad for my health?

A member asked:

In december i had a spontaneous pneumothorax. i know i shouldn't, but if i were to smoke a cigarette or weed, what would happen to my lung? thank you

A member asked:

Can i return to volleyball after suffering a spontaneous pneumothorax ?my pneumothorax happened during sleep, so sport is not a major cause?

A member asked:

I am a 28 year old female who had a spontaneous pneumothorax in 2019. i have never smoked. i am 5ft 10inches and weigh 125 lbs. i had a vats surgery and have had no problems ever since. should i have any concern about carrying and birthing naturally?

A member asked:

Could i get some information on a spontaneous pneumothorax?

A member asked:

Why are tall, slender men at higher risk for developing spontaneous pneumothorax?

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