12 Symptoms of Atelectasis

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Difficulty Breathing

Atelectasis is determined by the loss of lung capacity. Therefore, the person has difficulty breathing. It makes it difficult to take a deep breath, while both can be mild or severe. This experience often starts slowly, so it is not surprising that the patients cannot notice it in the first place. Simultaneously, the sickness develops in a way that it can become more severe, especially during physical activity.

Idiopathic pulmonary atelectasis is the leading reason for the shortness of breath in most people. The lung is unable to absorb the oxygen demand when a part of the lung collapses and for the body to be supplied with the remaining healthy lung tissue. Overcompensation is often insufficient, especially if the decrease is deep or if the patient has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). When the brain becomes aware of the falling levels of oxygen, it signals the respiratory system to be more active. Thus, sometimes, the result may be rapid, shallow breathing.

Difficulty breathing necessitates medical intervention in serious cases. The patient can be provided with oxygen therapy to fix the blood oxygen pressure by giving oxygen through breathing devices. Another way out is using breathing exercises or mechanical aids to help the lung tissues relax. If this symptom is not reduced, further complications, such as respiratory failure, may occur in some severe cases.

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