10 Causes of Atelectasis
Within our respiratory system, the airways are branch-like tubes that run through each one of your lungs. They bring oxygen in and out of your body and are extremely important for the maintenance of good health. Atelectasis is when the smaller airways within the lungs partially or completely collapse. It is one of the most common pulmonary complications from surgery but can also be caused by tumors and chest injuries among other things.
There are multiple types and causes of atelectasis. In simple terms, atelectasis is referred to as a collapsed lung, and this term is fairly accurate. The problem occurs when part or all of the lung collapses, making it impossible for fresh air to reach the alveoli. The alveoli are the small sacs in our lungs that effectively trade oxygen for carbon dioxide. If air can’t reach these sacks then we can’t breathe.
A number of problems result if we can’t get enough oxygen into our lungs. Our muscles and organs will begin to falter, since they all rely on oxygen. Our blood won’t be oxygenated and won’t be able to supply our brain with the oxygen that we need to think and perform properly. Atelectasis can be catastrophic for a person’s physical and mental health. If you’re worried about developing atelectasis, then you must be interested in knowing what problems can contribute to it. In this article, we’re going to outline the ten most common problems that can cause atelectasis.
