Collapsed Lung Symptoms
5. High Carbon Dioxide Levels in Blood
A collapsed lung can lead to increased carbon dioxide in blood, also called hypercapnia. This occurs because the air surrounding the lungs and filling the pleural space prevents the lungs from expelling as much carbon dioxide as they normally would.
Hypercapnia leads to respiratory acidosis, which the kidneys try to balance by retaining alkali materials instead of expelling it in urine. If the pneumothorax is severe, it can lead to acute hypercapnia, which is a medical emergency. Chronic hypercapnia can be associated with scuba diving and mountain climbing.
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