1. http://www.skepticalleft.com/data/cheditor/0808/rt_pneumothorax.gif

2.  Occurs when air leaks into the space between your lungs, creating pressure  Types of pneumothorax: › Spontaneous: no clear cause › Primary: no underlying lung disease › Secondary: underlying lung disease › Traumatic: injury to the chest › Tension: excessive pressure build up http://medicalimages.allrefer.com/large/pneumothorax-series-2.jpg

3.  A sharp, stabbing chest pain  Shoulder or back pain  A dry, hacking cough  Signs of cardiovascular collapse and shock (ex: veins sticking out, bluish skin, anxiety, rapid pulse, decrease of pressure, etc.) http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/275789-5310- 34.jpg

4.  No home care  Objective of treatment: to remove air from pleural space so that the lung can re-expand  Treatment depends on the severity of the case  Air can be removed using a needle and syringe, or a test tube. http://www.virtua.org/ADAM/graphics/images/en/15212.jpg http://www.itim.nsw.gov.au/images/chest_tube.jpg

5.  Trauma to the chest cavity (ex: a fractured rib, a bullet, knife, etc.)  Very tall and thin people are prone to spontaneous pneumothorax  Smoking cigarettes or using drugs  Abnormalities in lung tissue › Complications of asthma, cystic fibrosis, etc.

6.  Prevention isn’t very possible, but avoiding cigarette smoking would reduce the risk of a pneumothorax or a recurrence of one. http://www.nyr adiokorea.com /news_Images/ No_smoking_sig n.jpg

7.  Mayo Clinic › http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pneumo thorax/DS00943 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pneumo thorax/DS00943  Health-cares.net › http://respiratory-lung.health- cares.net/pneumothorax-treatment.php http://respiratory-lung.health- cares.net/pneumothorax-treatment.php  Emedicinehealth.com › http://www.emedicinehealth.com/collapse d_lung/article_em.htm http://www.emedicinehealth.com/collapse d_lung/article_em.htm