Causes of alveolar rupture

Because the lungs are responsible for the main respiratory function of the human body, and alveoli are distributed in the lungs, which are also a very important part for gas exchange. In an adult's lungs, there are a large number of alveoli, but due to conditions such as tuberculosis and pulmonary edema, alveolar rupture may occur. The following is a detailed introduction to the causes of alveolar rupture.

What causes alveolar rupture?

The alveoli are the main site of gas exchange in the lungs. It is a polyhedral vesicle with an opening. The alveolar wall is thin, with a diameter of about 200 to 250 microns. There are about 300 to 400 million alveoli in an adult, with a total area of ​​up to 100 square meters. Alveolar rupture is also called lung perforation, which can be caused by tuberculosis, emphysema, etc. It may also be congenital or caused by trauma (shooting, stabbing or broken ribs). In addition, long-term drug abuse can also cause lung perforation. There are many reasons that cause alveolar rupture, such as inflammatory response, trauma, foreign objects entering the lungs, sudden increase in environmental air pressure, and emphysema. Moreover, alveolar rupture often occurs in tall and thin people.

Other experts believe that the main cause of alveolar rupture is pneumothorax, which can cause alveolar rupture under the influence of some severe external force. Therefore, if you suffer from pneumothorax, you should first be careful not to engage in strenuous exercise, lift heavy objects, or subject your chest to great impact. In addition, you should also pay attention to preventing colds, because coughing due to a cold may also cause the alveoli to rupture. Pneumothorax should be treated promptly, and treatment can be carried out using long needle aspiration or closed drainage techniques, because untimely treatment may be life-threatening.

What to do if alveoli rupture

2.1. Asymptomatic alveolar rupture

Since the air bubbles in the lungs of patients with this type of bullae are small in area and few in number, there is no substantial damage to the lung function. The patient's lung function is close to completely normal and the patient has no symptoms. At this time, patients need to improve their physical fitness, pay attention to a light diet, supplement more protein and vitamins, and engage in appropriate fitness activities. Once the resistance is improved, it can usually heal itself.

2.2 Alveolar rupture with emphysema

Patients with this type of bullae did not pay attention to minor problems in their lungs in the early stages, which led to the increase in the area of ​​the bubbles and caused emphysema. Patients with bullous emphysema generally cannot heal on their own and require auxiliary drug treatment and active treatment of the primary lesions. Severe patients require surgical removal of the bullae to prevent the condition from worsening and causing irreversible damage to the lungs.

2.3 Destructive alveolar rupture

The alveoli in the lungs of patients with destructive bullae have completely enlarged, and sometimes may fill up one side of the chest cavity, causing substantial damage to the patient's lung function, causing partial loss of lung function, and in severe cases may affect the entire lung. In this condition, the bullae cannot heal on their own and must be surgically removed, and the lost lung function cannot be restored.