Question 1

what is a treatment for pectus excavatum?

Accepted Answer

Surgery: If the pectus is too severe, surgery may be required.

Question 2

is this a serious disease or it isn't? pectus excavatum

Accepted Answer

Not always: Can be purely cosmetic and be made fun of by peers/opposit sex.  Can affect exercise tolerance if severe and compressing the heart between the sternum and the spine.

Question 3

i have had a slight pectus excavatum and was wondering if this could cause me to have shortness in breath and no matter how much t

Accepted Answer

Generally, : Generally, a pectus excavatum needs to be quite severe before breathing would be affected.  A faily simple pulmonary function test will be able to tell.  If you have a primary care physician i would discuss this with him or her.

Question 4

can pectus excavatum grt worse after 14?

Accepted Answer

Yes: There is still chest wall mobility.
As one grows, the tissues can still change and the depth of the excavatum may exaggerate.
Some other symptoms may occur as well  as one ages.

Question 5

will bulking up affect a pectus excavatum?

Accepted Answer

Not really: But pectus can make the bulked up pectoralis muscles look assymetric.  Also bulking up may make the pectus look worse if the pectoralis muscles as well as the abdominal muscles become more bulky, and the sunken sternum looks more sunken.  Could also be coincidental if bulking up is done during teen years when the pectus is getting worse by itself.

Question 6

what does it mean to have mild pectus excavatum?

Accepted Answer

A common finding: A pectus excavatum is a chest wall deformity where there is a bony indentation in the sternum/breastbone.  You were likely born with the pectus and no further evaluation is required.  If severe rarely surgery is done to correct the problem.

Question 7

what happens if you don't treat pectus excavatum?

Accepted Answer

NoT much: Rarely does this cause any medical condition besides the cosmetic appearance. It is usually done in teenage boys for purely cosmetic and social reasons.

Question 8

what is good chest protection for pectus excavatum?

Accepted Answer

Nothing: Usually good strength of ribs and sternum.
The excavatum is just a varying depth site.

Question 9

certain exercises help ruduce the pectus excavatum?

Accepted Answer

Depends: It depends on the edxtent of the defect. Certain excercises can increase chest muscle mass such as the pecs. This may also accentuate the defect. There are no excerceses that can remodel the chest/rib cage.

Question 10

can someone tell me if pectus excavatum is dangerous?

Accepted Answer

No: Most pectus excavatum issues are cosmetic only. If there are symptoms, it is usually related to exercise intolerance. Surgical treatment is usually recommended after puberty to allow for any growth of the chest wall to occur.

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Physical therapy for pectus excavatum

A member asked:

What is a treatment for pectus excavatum?

A member asked:

Is this a serious disease or it isn't? pectus excavatum

A member asked:

I have had a slight pectus excavatum and was wondering if this could cause me to have shortness in breath and no matter how much t

A member asked:

Can pectus excavatum grt worse after 14?

A member asked:

Will bulking up affect a pectus excavatum?

A member asked:

What does it mean to have mild pectus excavatum?

A member asked:

What happens if you don't treat pectus excavatum?

A member asked:

What is good chest protection for pectus excavatum?

A member asked:

Certain exercises help ruduce the pectus excavatum?

A member asked:

Can someone tell me if pectus excavatum is dangerous?

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