What are the Symptoms of Pneumothorax?
Symptoms normally come on suddenly and commonly begin with chest pain. Other symptoms may include:
- Chest pain that worsens when trying to breath in
- Shortness of breath
- Bluish skin, lips or nails caused by a lack of oxygen
- Fatigue
- Rapid breathing and heartbeat
- Cough
How Pneumothorax is Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will want to know your medical history and complete a physical exam. During the exam, your provider will listen to your lungs through a stethoscope. As you breathe, they may tap your chest and listen for hollow sounds. Since higher than normal levels of carbon dioxide and low levels of oxygen can be indicators of a collapsed lung, your provider may suggest an arterial blood gas test to test these levels. To get a definite diagnosis, your provider will most likely order an imaging test such as a chest X-ray, a lung ultrasound or a CT scan.
Reviewed and approved by the American Lung Association Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel.
Page last updated: February 18, 2026
