Air Trapped in Lungs: Causes and Remedies

Do you ever experience shortness of breath, even after exhaling deeply? It might feel like you cannot completely empty your lungs of air, causing your breathing to become labored.

When air gets trapped in the lungs, over time, it can cause pulmonary hyperinflation-a condition where the lungs expand beyond their normal size.¹

Although hyperinflated lungs are commonly associated with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease),² other lung diseases that fall under the category of "obstructive", meaning they affect the amount of air you exhale, may also cause you to develop this condition.

In this article, we'll review what causes air trapping in the lungs and how to manage symptoms.

Air Trapping in Lungs: Causes & Symptoms

Air becomes trapped in the lungs when the tiny air sacs (i.e., alveoli) become damaged, affecting their ability to deflate fully ³. Inflammation and narrowing of the airways can further obstruct the natural exhalation of air, worsening this condition.

Conditions that may cause you to experience trapped air include:

• Emphysema, which falls under the umbrella of COPD, develops from repeated damage to the alveoli. As mentioned above, any damage to this area impedes their ability to deflate effectively, resulting in the accumulation of air in the lungs with subsequent breaths. ⁴
• Bronchiectasis causes the airways to widen abnormally, making it harder to mobilize mucus in the lungs and clear it-resulting in a repeated cycle of inflammation and infection. When the airways become inflamed, breathing becomes more labored, and patients struggle to move air (and mucus) up and out of the body freely.
• Asthma causes the airways to become inflamed and narrowed-due to smoke, airborne irritants, or allergies-making it difficult for lungs to empty completely.

In addition to these chronic lung conditions, shallow and rapid breathing, often seen in individuals with anxiety or panic disorders, can prevent the lungs from fully expanding and contracting, causing air to get stuck.

Symptoms of Hyperinflated Lungs

When air gets trapped in the lungs, it can feel like you can't get enough oxygen into your lungs (almost as though you are "hungry" for air ⁵). In reality, the problem is not that you're unable to inhale enough air; it's that your lungs cannot exhale air fully, leading to breathlessness and chest discomfort.

Common symptoms of air trapping in lungs may include:

• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Rapid breathing
• Wheezing
• Mucus production ⁶

In severe cases, patients may also experience blue lips or fingernails, confusion, and difficulty breathing even while at rest. ⁷

These symptoms may vary depending on the underlying cause of air trapping. Therefore, seeking medical evaluation and diagnosis is essential for proper treatment and management.

How to Treat Air Trapping In Lungs

While there is no cure for hyperinflated lungs, you can manage the symptoms by working with your healthcare team.

The main goal of treatment is to improve lung function and prevent complications.

Treatment options include ⁸:

• Bronchodilators, which help to relax the airway muscles and make it easier to breathe.
• Inhaled steroids to reduce inflammation in the airways.
• Oxygen therapy to increase the amount of oxygen circulating in the body.

Breathing exercises can play a crucial role in alleviating air trapped in the lungs. These exercises focus on improving lung capacity and promoting proper breathing techniques.

Let's review a few below:

Diaphragmatic Breathing

This technique involves deep breathing, where you focus on expanding the lower part of your lungs by allowing your diaphragm to fully contract and relax.

By practicing diaphragmatic breathing regularly, you can enhance lung function and reduce the likelihood of air trapping. ⁹

Pursed-lip Breathing

This technique involves inhaling slowly through the nose and exhaling through pursed lips, as if blowing out a candle.

Pursed-lip breathing helps regulate breathing, prevents rapid exhalation, and promotes better clearing out of air in the lungs. ¹⁰

Find More Lung Health Resources

Air trapping in the lungs can cause discomfort, shortness of breath, and other respiratory complications, such as hyperinflated lungs. Therefore, it's crucial to identify the underlying causes and seek medical attention promptly.

With proper diagnosis and treatment, you can manage symptoms and improve your quality of life. Remember, if you're experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned in this article, consult a healthcare professional, as it may be caused by an underlying condition.

Stay Connected!

Be sure to also stay connected to our blog for more tips on improving your lung health and avoiding triggers that could worsen your lung condition.

Resources
¹ National Library of Medicine. "Pulmonary hyperinflation, a clinical overview." Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8980982/
² Mayo Clinic. "Hyperinflated lungs: What does it mean?" Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/emphysema/expert-answers/hyperinflated-lungs/faq-20058169
³, ⁴, ⁵ Medical News Today. "What is air trapping in the lungs and is it serious?" Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/air-trapping-in-lungs
⁶ Johns Hopkins Medicine. "Pulmonary Emphysema." Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/pulmonary-emphysema
⁷, ⁸ Medical News Today. "What is air trapping in the lungs and is it serious?" Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/air-trapping-in-lungs
⁹ Cleveland Clinic. Diaphragmatic Breathing." Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9445-diaphragmatic-breathing
¹⁰ Cleveland Clinic. "Pursed-Lip Breathing." Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/9443-pursed-lip-breathing

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