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Causes of Pneumothorax

 Pneumothorax occurs when air collects outside the lungs and within the chest cavity and causes the lungs to collapse. The causes of pneumothorax include:

• Injury or open wound in the chest.
• Fractured ribs.
• Stabbing or gunshot wound to the chest.
• Surgery to the chest.
• Recent trauma.
• Excess pressure on the lungs.
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Medical procedures such as the insertion of chest tubes, lung biopsies, and endoscopic procedures.
• The rupture of a bleb or blister or cyst on the surface of the lungs causing air to collect around the lungs.
• Damaged lung tissue caused by other lung diseases or lung infections.
• If pneumothorax is left untreated, recurrence rates are higher in the same or the other lung.
  

Risk factors of pneumothorax include:

• Lung diseases such as asthma, COPD, tuberculosis, whooping cough, and cystic fibrosis can all increase the chance developing pneumothorax.
• For reasons unknown tall and thin people are more vulnerable to pneumothorax.
• Pneumothorax is more common in men than women.
• Smoking increases your risk of developing the condition.
• Rupturing of blebs (spontaneous thorax) is more common among people who participate in activities such as scuba diving, mountain climbing, and flying.
• People who are on mechanical ventilators to aid breathing are at a higher risk of suffering from pneumothorax.
• Pneumothorax is most commonly found in males between the ages of 20 to 40 years.
• Pneumothorax may be genetic and run in families.
• If you have suffered from pneumothorax before, you are automatically at a higher risk of developing pneumothorax in the same or the other lung in the next year or two.
• Colder weather increases the incidence of pneumothorax.