Symptoms of Emphysema

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Emphysema is commonly associated with chronic bronchitis. Because chronic bronchitis features swelling of the lining of the bronchial tubes and spasm, the passage of air is further reduced and there is a worsening of the condition.

In individuals where chronic bronchitis dominates, the breathing is noisy and there is much wheezing and coughing. However when emphysema starts, the air tubes are less affected and breathing may, at first, be quieter.

In emphysema there is a tendency for the air tubes to collapse on breathing out. Individuals can prevent this by maintaining the pressure in their tubes during expiration. This is done by breathing out through the mouth with the lips pursed and half-closed together. Such individuals often breathe in through their noses and out through the pursed lips. This may be an indication of emphysema.

Because of the breaking down of the alveoli, air becomes trapped in the enlarged alveolar spaces and the lungs become over-inflated. The chest remains in the breathe-in position and ends up becoming barrel-shaped.

The diminished oxygen supply will in the early stages allow quiet breathing at rest or on minor exertion. But as the emphysema worsens there is a reduction in the amount of exertion possible, and eventually the individual may be able to do no more than sit up in bed. Even then, there may be breathlessness requiring oxygen to be given by mask. Usually, the heavy breathing will, for a time, allow enough oxygen into the blood to avoid blueness of the skin (cyanosis), however eventually, cyanosis is likely to occur.

Overwhelming infection, inadequate oxygen supply (respiratory failure) or secondary effects on the heart can be fatal.