how do you get a collapsed lung

A collapsed lung (the medical term is pneumothorax) happens when air leaks into the space between the lung and the chest wall, which makes the lung partially or fully collapse. This is a medical emergency and never something to try to cause on purpose.

🔴 Important safety note

• Intentionally trying to “get” a collapsed lung can be life‑threatening and can lead to death, brain damage from lack of oxygen, or permanent lung problems.

• If you or someone else is thinking about harming their body or “testing limits,” it is crucial to talk to a doctor, trusted adult, or mental health professional right away.

If this question is about yourself and you’re feeling distressed, please seek urgent help (local emergency number, crisis hotline, or emergency department).

What a collapsed lung actually is

• Normally, your lung is inflated and held against the chest wall by a tiny pressure difference in the pleural space (the thin space around the lung).

• A pneumothorax occurs when air gets into that space, usually through damage to the lung tissue or the chest wall, and the air pushes the lung inward so it can’t expand properly.

Symptoms often include:

• Sudden sharp one‑sided chest pain.

• Shortness of breath or feeling like you can’t take a full breath.

• Fast heart rate, feeling light‑headed, or anxious.

Severe cases (like tension pneumothorax) can cause low blood pressure, blue lips, and collapse, and can be rapidly fatal without emergency treatment.

Main ways people get a collapsed lung (not on purpose)

Doctors usually group causes into three big categories.

1. Spontaneous (no obvious injury)

This means the lung collapses without a direct external blow.

• Primary spontaneous pneumothorax :
  • Happens in people without known lung disease, often young, tall, thin adults and smokers.

* Caused by tiny air blisters (blebs) on the lung surface that suddenly burst.

• Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax :
  • Occurs in people with existing lung conditions like COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, or lung infections.

* Diseased or weakened lung tissue is more likely to tear and leak air.

Other spontaneous‑type triggers:

• Sudden pressure changes, such as scuba diving or going to high altitude, can make vulnerable blebs burst.

• Rare genetic or cystic lung diseases that create fragile air sacs.

2. Traumatic (from injuries)

These come from physical damage to the chest or lung.

• Blunt trauma: car crashes, falls, sports hits, or hard blows that break ribs or bruise the lung.

• Penetrating trauma: stab wounds, gunshot wounds, or any sharp object entering the chest.

• High‑speed or high‑pressure situations (e.g., some aviation or blast injuries) that stress the chest and lungs.

These are medical emergencies handled in emergency departments or trauma centers.

3. Medical‑procedure related

Sometimes a pneumothorax happens accidentally during medical care.

• Insertion of central venous lines in the chest/neck.

• Lung biopsy or other procedures where a needle or instrument goes near the lung.

• Mechanical ventilation, when high pressures needed to support breathing inadvertently over‑inflate and tear fragile lung tissue.

These are called iatrogenic (caused by medical treatment), and doctors monitor and treat them quickly.

Collapsed lung vs. other “collapse” problems

Sometimes “collapsed lung” is also used for atelectasis , which is different but related.

• Pneumothorax: air in the pleural space making the lung shrink inward.

• Atelectasis: part of the lung tissue collapses because airways are blocked (for example, by mucus, a tumor, or something inhaled) or because outside pressure compresses the lung.

Atelectasis can happen after surgery, from severe mucus plugging, tumors, or external pressure like fluid or enlarged lymph nodes. Both situations affect breathing and can be serious, but they are treated differently.

What to do if you suspect a collapsed lung

If someone suddenly has sharp chest pain and trouble breathing, especially after an injury, lung disease, or a medical procedure:

1. Call emergency services immediately. This condition should not be watched at home “to see if it goes away.”

2. Keep the person sitting up if they can breathe better that way , and avoid strenuous movement while waiting for help.

3. In the hospital, treatment can include:
   • Oxygen.

 * A needle or chest tube placed into the chest to remove trapped air so the lung can re‑expand.

 * In some cases, surgery to repair leaks or remove recurring blebs.

Why deliberately causing one is so dangerous

Trying to “get” a collapsed lung—by hitting yourself, letting someone hit you, using objects, or manipulating your breathing or pressure—can:

• Damage major blood vessels or the heart and cause massive internal bleeding.

• Lead to a tension pneumothorax, where pressure in the chest builds so much it stops the heart.

• Leave permanent scarring and chronic lung problems even if you survive.

Because of that, no safe or controlled method exists to intentionally cause a collapsed lung, and medical professionals work to prevent it, not create it.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.