The lungs are two organs within the chest that take in oxygen from the air, pass it into the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide out of the body. Injury to the chest, marijuana use and hiking at high altitudes can cause a collapsed lung in certain people. A collapsed lung occurs when excess air collects around the lungs, preventing them from expanding normally during inhalation. The complications of a collapsed lung can be life-threatening and require immediate medical intervention.
Scar Tissue in Lungs
A collapsed lung can damage the delicate tissues within these organs. Affected people can develop tough, inflexible scar tissue within the lungs as a complication of this medical condition, MayoClinic.com reports. The buildup of scar tissue within the lungs can lead to permanent breathing difficulties, as this tight tissue can interfere with lung expansion and contraction during inhalation and exhalation.
Hypoxemia and Hypotension
Poor lung function due to lung collapse prevents adequate levels of oxygen from entering the body. Oxygen-poor blood, a complication called hypoxemia, is unable to supply the cells, tissues and organs with sufficient oxygen, which can cause organ malfunction. Low oxygen levels can also contribute to a significant decrease in a person's blood pressure, a complication referred to as hypotension, the University of Maryland Medical Center explains. These complications can contribute to breathing difficulties, dizziness, blue skin discoloration and fatigue in affected people.
Lung Infection
People who have a collapsed lung are at an increased risk of developing an infection within the affected lung. The most common lung infection complication is pneumonia, Drugs.com warns, which can cause symptoms of cough, chest pain, wheezing and breathing difficulties upon exertion. A lung infection can exacerbate lung collapse symptoms and may interfere with the ability of the lungs to fully heal.
Respiratory Failure or Shock
Collapse of the entire lung can result in complete respiratory failure in certain people, especially infants and people with preexisting lung disease, according to MayoClinic.com. Respiratory failure is characterized by complete loss of lung function, which means that a person stops breathing. People who experience respiratory failure can also go into shock, a condition that arises when the body does not receive enough blood. The symptoms of respiratory failure and shock are similar and can include dizziness, pale skin, chest pain, anxiety, confusion, sweating, rapid pulse or loss of consciousness, MedlinePlus explains. Patients who experience these collapsed lung complications require immediate emergency medical attention to prevent further problems.
