5. Pneumothorax and Respiratory Failure
When a lung collapses, it’s called pneumothorax. This condition occurs when air leaks from your lungs into the space between your ribs and lung. The air places pressure on the exterior of the lung, pushing it inwards, inevitably resulting in the collapse of the organ. Most pneumothorax cases deal with partial lung collapse.
Symptoms of the condition include shortness of breath and sudden chest pain. In some cases, if medical treatment is too late, it can turn into a life-threatening situation. While a small pneumothorax will heal on its own, a significant collapse requires the insertion of a tube into the collapsed area to relieve the pressure on the lung and allow it to inflate properly.
In some chronic cases, cystic fibrosis damages the lungs so severely that it leads to respiratory failure, where the lungs are unable to transport oxygen to the blood. This condition is life-threatening and can result in death if not treated immediately by a medical professional. People at this stage of the disorder may require the use of oxygen throughout the day.