Symptoms of a Non-Functioning Lung
If one of your lungs is not functioning properly, you may experience several different symptoms. Some of these symptoms include:
• Shortness of breath: You may feel breathless even when you are doing activities that don't usually cause any difficulty in breathing.
• Chest pain: You may experience pain in your chest that is worse when you take a deep breath or when you cough.
• Coughing: You may experience a persistent cough with mucus or a dry cough.
• Fatigue: You may feel unusually tired even after a good night's sleep.
• Wheezing: You may experience a whistling sound when you breathe.
• Fever: You may experience a fever due to an infection in your lungs.
• Weight loss: You may lose weight without trying due to the decreased oxygen in your body.
Diagnosis of a Non-Functioning Lung
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, it is important to see a medical professional as soon as possible. They will be able to perform tests to determine if one of your lungs is not functioning properly. Tests may include:
• Chest X-ray: This test can help identify any abnormalities in the lungs such as tumors or infection.
• CT scan: This test can help provide a more detailed look at the lungs and can help identify any structural abnormalities such as a collapsed lung.
• Pulmonary function tests: These tests can help measure the amount of air that can be exhaled in a given amount of time and can help identify any issues with lung function.
• Blood tests: These tests can help identify any infection or inflammation in the lungs.
Once the cause of the non-functioning lung has been identified, your doctor will be able to develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your specific needs. Treatment may include medications, oxygen therapy, or surgery.
