The causes of pneumothorax vary with age. In young people, the condition often occurs in tall, thin individuals, somewhat akin to a balloon. We can liken the lung to a balloon: for shorter, heavier individuals, the balloon is rounder and experiences more uniform stress, whereas for tall, thin individuals, it's as if the balloon is being stretched vertically. Therefore, the tips of the balloon (or the lung) in tall, thin individuals are more prone to rupture. Additionally, for tall, thin individuals, the blood supply to the apical alveoli may not be as robust, making them more susceptible to micro-ruptures. Microscopic anatomical structures have also proven that there are tiny pores in the apical bubble tissues in these individuals. In older adults, the causes of pneumothorax are usually underlying lung diseases, such as chronic smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, and other conditions like tuberculosis or HIV infections can also lead to pneumothorax. Some cases are due to traumatic causes like physical injuries or stab wounds, which can lead to secondary or iatrogenic pneumothorax. In summary, while the causes of pneumothorax vary by age, in young people, it more commonly stems from being tall and thin. In older individuals, smoking, tobacco use, chronic bronchitis, and infections are more common causes.