After recovering from pneumothorax, it is not recommended to continue swimming. Swimming is prone to induce pneumothorax again in patients who have experienced pneumothorax.
Pneumothorax is a state of air accumulation in the pleural cavity caused by various reasons leading to pleural rupture and air entering the pleural cavity. It can be categorized into three types: spontaneous, traumatic and medical.
For pneumothorax caused by various reasons, the integrity of the pleura is destroyed, and even after the recovery of pneumothorax, there is still the possibility of rupture again. Especially for spontaneous pneumothorax, most patients have underlying lung disease, and after the initial pneumothorax, the chances of having another episode of pneumothorax are relatively high.
Swimming is a sport in its own right, and when swimming, the water puts some pressure on various parts of the body. For the chest wall, the water compresses the chest wall, limiting its expansion and causing symptoms of chest tightness. During swimming, repeated breath-holding and breath-exchange will be performed, which can easily induce the occurrence of pneumothorax.
After recovering from pneumothorax, patients should pay attention to avoiding strenuous exercise, and are advised to seek medical treatment in time if they feel unwell.