The following symptoms and complaints may indicate pneumothorax:
Symptoms of pneumothorax:
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Dry cough
- Sharp pain in the thorax (chest), may also radiate to the abdomen (abdomen) and/or shoulder; later, with stable pneumothorax, only dull pressure
Symptoms of tension pneumothorax:
- Tachycardia – heartbeat too fast: > 100 beats per minute.
- Tachypnea – breathing too fast.
- Hypotension – low blood pressure; further leads to increasing circulatory instability.
- Central cyanosis – bluish discoloration of skin and central mucous membranes/tongue.
- Bulging neck veins
- Asymmetric respiratory movements of the chest
However, a pneumothorax can also remain asymptomatic, that is, without obvious symptoms. A tension pneumothorax, on the other hand, is an acute life-threatening situation that requires immediate action.