I have been told I have long lungs, a... - Lung Conditions C...

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I have been told I have long lungs, and they have to know this when I have an xray has anybody else been advised of this. thanks mogworth

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mogworth
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stone-UK profile image
stone-UK

Hi

I also have long lungs, when I go for a x-ray I always tell the. I need two x-rays one normal and one lower down, for which they are always grateful , saves having to be called back.

Found this information.

Are you fairly tall and really slender? In my experience, men with this body build are the ones with the longest lungs. Sometimes, the lungs are so long that we cannot fit them on one film. We end up putting the apices (top of the lungs) on one film, and then take a second x-ray with the bases (at the bottom of the lungs). It doesn't happen very often that we end up having to get a complete chest x-ray on two films, but when I have ended up doing that, they were all tall, slender men! This maybe happens in 1 out of 400 chest x-rays. Of course this is a guesstimate, as I haven't kept records on this! lol

Source:

I am a radiologic technologist....

Also found.

Other Causes

A person with hyperexpanded lungs doesn't necessarily have COPD. Sometimes long lungs can result from a structural abnormality that sometimes occurs in tall, slender individuals. People who are diagnosed with asthma also can have the same symptoms of hyperexpanded lungs, including elongated lungs and respiratory problems.

Read more : ehow.com/about_5690727_hype...

O2Trees profile image
O2Trees in reply to stone-UK

It also saves you double the radiation :)

When I went for an X-Ray recently I was told I have long lungs too. I presume it is part of COPD and is due to hyperextention or something like that. x

Ian123 profile image
Ian123

Setting the x ray machine in either portrait (long lungs) or landscape enables all the information to be captured with less fuss for everyone.

Add a like for tall slim males having long lungs because my mirror is not as accurate as the x ray of my long lungs ;-)

mogworth profile image
mogworth

i am due for a ct scan as I have never had one, and then hopefully know exactly what umbrella I come under with long lungs Bet Wishes to all thank you for your help!

Puffthemagicdragon profile image
Puffthemagicdragon

No way am I tall but my lungs are longer than normal. Always have been. Nothing to do with COPD in my case. I always let them know as it saves time.

in reply to Puffthemagicdragon

My recent X-ray showed long lungs with no active disease as stated by the radiologist. My chiropractor was stunned by this. He sent my last two X-rays to a radiologist in California. I'm not tall and I have no symptoms whatsoever! I have a slim build and narrow chest which matches my size. The first X-ray was done in the local ER. I was sick and diagnosed with parainfluenza which is not the flu & it's the leading cause of pneumonia in seniors and young children. Then the second X-ray was done as follow up 10 days later. I'm waiting for the CA radiologist's response. My primary doctor said I don't have COPD and the radiologists have to define it as stated in my first sentence to define the appearance of lungs even if there's no disease at all. I wanted another opinion.

out-for-lunch profile image
out-for-lunch

I have long lungs, have had for years.

Just tell the technician to put the plate in in portrait mode. Saves a lot of re-takes.

patsymac profile image
patsymac

Agree with Puff, I am very petite but I have long lungs, nothing to do with copd, I always mention it when I have x-rays, it saves time.

Suzy6 profile image
Suzy6

The list of people with long lungs is growing. I have long lungs too.

in reply to Suzy6

I'm glad I connected with this site. Makes me feel better! I have long lungs & I have slim build. No disease in lungs at all!

Poppy-1 profile image
Poppy-1 in reply to

This is very comforting 1 I had an X-ray yesterday and the radiologist said my lungs were extremely long - and perhaps this was due to me being tall and slim rather than anything sinister.

Phoenix713 profile image
Phoenix713 in reply to Poppy-1

It's nice to see that other people have long lungs with no issues. I got an Xray taken today and the tech told me I have long lungs. But I have yet to hear any results. I am also very tall and slender.

Micmak profile image
Micmak in reply to Phoenix713

I had a xray Tuesday and was told i have long lungs have no signs of COPD just waiting for results hope all is ok 👍

kiwigal profile image
kiwigal

Me too. I just thought it was because I was a 6ft woman. I was told I had large organs when giving birth to my son in Thailand 20 years ago, by a petite Thai doctor. Just thought it was me.

daisymae00 profile image
daisymae00

I was told two days ago that my lungs were longer than expected and I am not tall or slim. The doctor found my lungs to be healthy with no disease.

in reply to daisymae00

Me too! I'd had X-rays just recently because I went to ER not feeling too well and diagnosed with parainfluenza which is not the flu and has no vaccine. That's how I found out for first time in my life that I had long lungs. I'm a senior and never been told this before. But my lungs are disease free!

mogworth profile image
mogworth

I have just read such interesting replys to long lungs. Time passes so quickly, I cannot believe it was 2 years ago. Just wanted to say just love this site and all the people that contribute to it Thank you!!!!!

Ev_Darklin profile image
Ev_Darklin

I've just been told I have long lungs as well. Kind of funny how I stumbled upon ghis 3 days later

lochossian profile image
lochossian

Well me too! Have just come back from X-ray and radiologist exclaimed when she saw length of my lungs. Would this affect fev1 as power cf triangular lungs would be less. No idea at this stage if I have pathology but am tall skinnymalink woman. Sporty and don't get out of breath...

HoneyBadgerTami profile image
HoneyBadgerTami

Hello! I as well have EXTREMELY Long lungs, barrel lungs and athlete lungs (I am not an athlete as I don’t even exercise. With stage 4 COPD. My body size is 5 foot and 3 inches with a weight of 80lbs.

Dirtydancing1981 profile image
Dirtydancing1981

Yes, even when I tell them b4 hand. Later they come back to have me return to exray. Is their a medical reason for this

Kpacific profile image
Kpacific

I also have long lungs. The X-ray technicians always ask, if I'm a swimmer. Apparently swimmers have long lungs. I did a lot of swimming as a kid and would practice holding my breath, so that I could swim under water longer. I'll have to research this. I don't have COPD, but do have bronchiectasis.

Okhealth profile image
Okhealth

I have been told by technicians who have done thousands of xrays that they have never seen lungs so long. They never fit in a single xray image in any orientation. I'm 6' male, muscular, not slim, in good shape and disease free. I'm guessing it's more like 1 in 1000 than 400 in my case because it always results in some surprise from experienced techs who it seems would have seen it a time or two, but everyone is on a spectrum with most people clumped near the short end.

Not sure if it's more genetic or devepmental or if it runs in the family. I had some athsma as a kid and grew out of it. Maybe that was a factor. Played lots of sports. Always could hold my breath longer than anyone else underwater, dominate on lung capacity challenges, and empty large vape bags in a single breath.

I was a little concerned with the strong association with lung disease, so I'm glad to have found others with long lungs and otherwise healthy. Seems like it could be a double edged sword with better oxygen delivery but more opportunity for particles and pathogens to get stuck. Time will tell I guess; but so far, so good.

Firelog profile image
Firelog

Also worth checking is pectus carinatum/chondromanubrial prominence/deformity

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