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Signs & Symptoms of Pulmonary Emphysema

Pulmonary emphysema is a lung disorder that is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Frequently caused by smoking, emphysema inflames millions of tiny air sacs in the lungs, resulting in the rupture of those air sacs. There is no cure for emphysema, and its symptoms can be severe.

  1. Shortness of Breath

    • Shortness of breath is frequently one of the earliest signs of emphysema. As the air sacs become inflamed, strenuous activity can tire the patient faster than normal and make it increasingly difficult to breathe. As the condition worsens, the patient may have trouble breathing even when at rest and may need oxygen to get the proper amount of air to the lungs. Mechanical respiratory devices are commonly used as emphysema gets worse and breathing ability continues to degrade.

    Cough

    • Chronic coughing is another common symptom of emphysema as the lungs become weaker and are filled with stale air that is not being expelled correctly. The cough is usually a dry, hacking cough that does not produce any mucus. As the disease worsens, the coughing gets more severe and can become exhausting.

    Frequent Respiratory Infections

    • Because the immune system is weakened as the illness progresses and the lungs continue to degrade frequent respiratory infections appear and can make it even more difficult to breathe. Symptoms of the infection can include a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and a cough.

    Reduced Appetite/Weight Loss

    • Emphysema sufferers frequently find their appetite waning as they get sicker. The loss of appetite combined with the body's inability to properly provide nutrients to the cells and tissues can contribute to rapid weight loss and the patient sometimes requires a strict dietary regimen to maintain or add on weight. In the later stages of the disease, the patient may require intravenous feeding.

    Fatigue

    • Fatigue is another frequent symptom of emphysema because the lungs are continuously straining for air and the body is not receiving the proper amount of oxygen. The heart has to pump harder to make up for the deficiency in the lungs. Combined with the coughing, this can make the patient easily fatigued. In the early stages, fatigue after any type of activity is common, and as the illness progresses, the patient may be in a perpetual state of exhaustion.

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