Lung injuries can be pretty serious when a person sustains trauma to the area. Many accidents, especially types involving motor vehicles, can cause a person to suffer conditions such as a collapsed lung. The most obvious concern for a person with a lung injury is their inability to breathe.
Types
The two most common types of lung injuries include acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. These two disorders are not only brought on by trauma, but can also be caused by pneumonia, sepsis or aspiration. Both of the conditions are categorized by hypoxemia, which is a lack of oxygen in the blood supply.
Features
Lung injuries can cause a variety of very serious symptoms. Trauma to the lung can affect the person's ability to breathe, or cause chest pain, lightheadedness, coughing and wheezing. It is important to contact emergency medical personnel right away since lung injuries can prove fatal.
Prevention/Solution
The most important thing is to get a lung injury assessed right away. Although your symptoms may not seem severe, the injury may be. Your doctor will likely first want to give you a chest x-ray in order to decide the best course of treatment. If the lung injury is causing pressure in the chest cavity, a needle will need to be inserted to remove the pressure. The air can also be removed using a catheter. Another treatment involves placing a chest tube through the armpit and leaving it in place until the injury is resolved. Physicians may also recommend putting the person on oxygen in order to help them breathe. A pulmonary specialist may also be consulted in order to determine if surgery is needed to treat the lung injury.
Considerations
After initial treatment of a lung injury, you will need to go through several tests, including chest x-rays, to ensure that treatment has been successful. You will also have to steer clear of demanding physical activity until you are completely healed. Smoking must be avoided as well.
Warning
There are no at-home or self-care methods you can use when you suffer a lung injury. A physician must be advised in order to ensure that the condition does not worsen.
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