From the Guidelines
Yes, it is possible to collapse a lung (pneumothorax) from severe coughing, though this is relatively rare, as stated in the British Thoracic Society guideline for pleural disease 1. Forceful coughing can create enough pressure to rupture small air sacs (alveoli) or weak areas in the lung tissue, allowing air to escape into the space between the lung and chest wall. This condition is called a spontaneous pneumothorax and is more likely to occur in people with underlying lung conditions such as COPD, asthma, or cystic fibrosis. Some key points to consider include:
- Tall, thin individuals and smokers also have higher risk
- Symptoms include sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and a dry cough
- If you experience these symptoms after severe coughing, seek immediate medical attention Treatment depends on the severity - small pneumothoraces may heal on their own with rest and oxygen therapy, while larger ones require medical intervention such as needle aspiration or chest tube placement to remove the trapped air and allow the lung to re-expand, as discussed in the guideline 1. It's also worth noting that certain airway clearance therapies, such as positive expiratory pressure and intrapulmonary percussive ventilation, may need to be withheld in patients with pneumothorax, as recommended in the cystic fibrosis pulmonary guidelines 1.
From the Research
Can Coughing Collapse a Lung
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to suggest that coughing can collapse a lung 2, 3, 4, 5.
- The studies primarily focus on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of influenza, as well as the effectiveness of antiviral medications 2, 3, 4, 5.
- However, it is known that severe and prolonged coughing can lead to complications such as pneumothorax (collapsed lung) in rare cases, but this is not explicitly mentioned in the provided studies.
- Influenza and other respiratory infections can increase the risk of developing pneumonia and other respiratory complications, which may lead to a collapsed lung in severe cases 2, 5.
- Further research is needed to determine the relationship between coughing and lung collapse, as the provided studies do not provide sufficient evidence to answer this question.