Question 1

25 year old son had spontaneous pneumothorax.  surgeon reattached lung to wall now is having same pain he had before surgery when he sneezes?

Accepted Answer

Might be normal: Might be normal post op pain but a quick chest x-ray will help make sure there's no recurrent pneumo.

Question 2

i have a collapsed lung and everytime i sneeze i feel that my chest hurts?

Accepted Answer

Be re evaluated: You did not say what caused your collapsed lung. But whether it was trauma or spontaneous if you sneeze or cough or bear down it can make the collapse worse. This can  cause increased pain or difficulty breathing. Follow up with your doctor to make sure the pneumothorax hasnt increased in size.

Question 3

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.

Question 4

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 5

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 6

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 7

can you fly after having spontaneous pneumothorax?

Accepted Answer

If well healed: Barotrauma from scuba or skydiving at high altitude could put a person at risk for spontaneous pneumothorax but since airline cabins are pressurized, a routine airline flight should not induce barotrauma.  If previous pneumothorax has been treated without complication routine air travel is ok.

Question 8

can spontaneous pneumothorax occur after pleurodesis?

Accepted Answer

Yes, occasionally: Although pleurodesis can reduce the chances of a life threatening pneumothorax, depending on how well the lung adheres to the chest wall after pleurodesis you can still get spontaneous pneumothoraces.

Question 9

does naval aviation lead to spontaneous pneumothorax?

Accepted Answer

Rare: In normal patients aviation does not lead to spontaneous pneumothorax. In people who have bullous disease or blebs (abnormal lung tissue that form large air sacs) pressure changes may lead to a higher risk of spontaneous pneumothorax. A person who already has had an episode of pneumothorax has as high as a 50% chance of having a recurrence without definitive treatment..

Question 10

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.

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Doctor answers about:

Does holding my sneeze give me a higher risk of having spontaneous pneumothorax

A member asked:

25 year old son had spontaneous pneumothorax. surgeon reattached lung to wall now is having same pain he had before surgery when he sneezes?

A member asked:

I have a collapsed lung and everytime i sneeze i feel that my chest hurts?

A member asked:

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

A member asked:

Can living at a higher altitude cause spontaneous pneumothorax?

A member asked:

What is the most common cause of spontaneous pneumothorax?

A member asked:

Could i get some information on a spontaneous pneumothorax?

A member asked:

Can you fly after having spontaneous pneumothorax?

A member asked:

Can spontaneous pneumothorax occur after pleurodesis?

A member asked:

Does naval aviation lead to spontaneous pneumothorax?

A member asked:

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

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