Can you collapse a lung by coughing

See, Play and Learn No links available. Research Clinical Trials Journal Articles. Resources Reference Desk Find an Expert. For You Patient Handouts. Causes of a collapsed lung include Lung diseases such as pneumonia or lung cancer Being on a breathing machine Surgery on the chest or abdomen A blocked airway If only a small area of the lung is affected, you may not have symptoms. A chest x-ray can tell if you have it.

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Start Here. Diagnosis and Tests. Fine blood vessels, such as those in your nose, eyes, and anus, can burst under the pressure of violent coughing. The tissues of your throat can become inflamed due to a chronic cough. Sustained coughing can also lead to throat infections that can spread to other areas of your body.

Although a rib fracture caused by chronic coughing is more likely in people with lower bone density, it can happen to people with normal bone density. The ribs most likely to crack under the pressure of coughing are the fifth through ninth , and they are most likely to crack on the side. When you cough, your ribs are pushed downward and inward. At the same time, your diaphragm is pushed upward. The combination of these opposing actions can result in a diaphragmatic rupture.

Coughing can be traced to numerous causes. Some of the underlying conditions that could be the reason for your coughing could include:. If you have an unexplained cough that has been present for more than a couple of weeks, see your doctor.

Get emergency medical care if, along with the cough, you have other symptoms that suggest an underlying condition. These symptoms might include:. After a particularly vigorous coughing fit, repeating the old joke about coughing up a lung might get you a laugh.

It is not physically possible to cough up a lung, but there are a number of ways that violent coughing can hurt your body, from coughing up blood to cracking your ribs. Coughing up blood can be a symptom of a disease and should never be ignored. A cough that persists for eight or more weeks is known as a chronic cough, and it can occur along with a variety of other symptoms like shortness of…. Lung cancer coughs often have specific traits that differentiate them from coughs caused by other conditions.

Learn more and when to speak with a…. Sometimes it happens for no known reason in an otherwise healthy person spontaneous pneumothorax. Treatment depends on the cause of the collapse.

It may heal with rest, although your doctor will want to keep track of your progress. It can take several days for the lung to expand again.

Your doctor may have drained the air with a needle or tube inserted into the space between your chest and the collapsed lung. If you have a chest tube, be sure to follow your doctor's instructions about how to care for the tube. You may need further treatment if you are not getting better. Surgery is sometimes needed to keep the lung inflated. The doctor will want to keep track of your progress, so you will need a follow-up examination within a few days.

The doctor has checked you carefully, but problems can develop later. If you notice any problems or new symptoms, get medical treatment right away. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

Call anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:.

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