Pneumothorax Symptoms and Diagnosis

What are the Symptoms of Pneumothorax?

Symptoms normally come on suddenly and commonly begin with chest pain. Other symptoms may include: 

• Chest pain that worsens when trying to breath in
• Shortness of breath
• Bluish skin, lips or nails caused by a lack of oxygen
• Fatigue
• Rapid breathing and heartbeat
• Cough

How Pneumothorax is Diagnosed

Your healthcare provider will want to know your medical history and complete a physical exam. During the exam, your provider will listen to your lungs through a stethoscope. As you breathe, they may tap your chest and listen for hollow sounds. Since higher than normal levels of carbon dioxide and low levels of oxygen can be indicators of a collapsed lung, your provider may suggest an arterial blood gas test to test these levels. To get a definite diagnosis, your provider will most likely order an imaging test such as a chest X-ray, a lung ultrasound or a CT scan.