On March 1, Fu Music Co., Ltd. announced that musician Khalil Fong passed away on February 21, 2025 at the age of 41.

Khalil Fong has been battling the disease for many years. According to previous reports, he was hospitalized several times for pneumothorax due to overwork. In 2024, he said that he was on the road to recovery and his physical condition had improved, but he had not yet fully recovered.

What is pneumothorax?

Why is pneumothorax also called "exploded lung"?

What behaviors can cause the lungs to "leak"?

Let’s learn more↓↓↓

Lungs breathe all the time, but they can also break. When a lung breaks, pneumothorax occurs, which is why it is often called "exploded lung". Pneumothorax attacks often have no warning signs and often occur suddenly after strenuous exercise or lifting heavy objects. They can also occur during simple daily actions, such as bending over, drawing curtains, sneezing, or even resting quietly.

The pathogenesis is generally the rupture of the subpleural bullae, and the main symptoms are chest tightness and chest pain, and in severe cases, dyspnea. If it is a hemothorax with bleeding, it may cause hemorrhagic shock, syncope, and even life-threatening.

What is pneumothorax?

Pneumothorax, a condition in which there is accumulation of air in the chest cavity, is caused by the entry of air into the pleural cavity. There are many causes of pneumothorax, which are mainly divided into spontaneous, traumatic and iatrogenic.

• Spontaneous pneumothorax is the most common. Simply put, a small hole in the surface of the lung allows air to leak from the lung into the thoracic cavity (the space between the lung and the chest wall). This leaked air can compress the lungs, causing chest pain, difficulty breathing, and even life-threatening conditions.

There are two types of spontaneous pneumothorax:

Primary pneumothorax often occurs in healthy people without underlying lung disease. Due to various reasons, the pressure in the alveoli increases, the alveolar wall ruptures, and the inhaled gas enters the pleural cavity, causing air accumulation and forming pneumothorax.

Secondary pneumothorax is usually caused by problems with the lungs themselves, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, tuberculosis, etc. The lung tissue is relatively fragile and may "leak" with the slightest force.

• Traumatic pneumothorax refers to pneumothorax caused by pleural rupture due to chest trauma such as car accidents and falls from heights.
• Iatrogenic pneumothorax refers to pneumothorax caused by the inadvertent puncture of the pleura or lung tissue during a medical procedure, allowing gas to enter.

The high-risk group for spontaneous pneumothorax is tall and thin young boys: During puberty, the lung tissue of tall and thin people often "cannot keep up" with the rapid growth and development, and they are prone to congenital elastic fiber dysplasia.

Patients with lung diseases: such as asthma, chronic obstructive disease, tuberculosis, interstitial lung disease, etc.

People who smoke for a long time: Long-term smoking can easily lead to lung inflammation, changes in the structure of bronchioles and alveoli, etc.

The trigger of spontaneous pneumothorax

Vigorous exercise: The pressure in the chest cavity suddenly increases, and the lungs cannot bear it and “explode”.

Coughing or sneezing: If you cough too hard or sneeze too forcefully, you can also make your lungs "leak."

Changes in air pressure: For example, when diving or flying, the air pressure changes suddenly, and the lungs may "protest".

Emotional excitement: laughing, shouting, quarreling... Once emotions get aroused, the chest pressure will soar, which may also cause spontaneous pneumothorax.

Chest pain, breathing difficulties, dry cough...these symptoms may indicate that your body is crying out for help. If you experience these symptoms, don't just bear it, go to the hospital immediately.

• Chest pain: Chest pain is the most typical symptom of pneumothorax. It usually occurs on one side and is like a stabbing pain or tearing pain. Sometimes it radiates to the shoulder, back or arm. Chest pain can occur suddenly and worsen with coughing and deep breathing. The pain generally does not subside on its own and can only be relieved after treatment.
• Dyspnea: Often occurs simultaneously with chest pain, manifested by shortness of breath after climbing a few steps of stairs, chest tightness after lifting heavy objects, as if something is blocking the chest, and the feeling that there is not enough air in the lungs.
• Cough: Generally dry cough.

In daily life, prevention is more important than cure. Quitting smoking, maintaining healthy living habits, and avoiding excessive fatigue and strenuous exercise are all key to preventing spontaneous pneumothorax.

If you experience chest pain and difficulty breathing after coughing violently or exerting too much force, go to the hospital immediately to avoid delaying treatment.