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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffEmphysema symptoms are mild to begin with but steadily get worse as the disease progresses. The main emphysema symptoms are:
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
- Reduced capacity for physical activity
- Chronic coughing, which could also indicate chronic bronchitis
- Loss of appetite and weight
- Fatigue
When to see a doctor
- You tire quickly, or you can't easily do the things you used to do
- You can't breathe well enough to tolerate even moderate exercise
- Your breathing difficulty worsens when you have a cold
- Your lips or fingernails are blue or gray, indicating low oxygen in your blood
- You frequently cough up yellow or greenish sputum
- You note that bending over to tie your shoes makes you short of breath
- You are losing weight
These signs and symptoms don't necessarily mean you have emphysema, but they do indicate that your lungs aren't working properly and should be evaluated by your doctor as soon as possible.
- Emphysema. American Lung Association. http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2060053&content_id={39330D56-C0E9-4D08-B98F-18EA7B3C410B}¬oc=1. Accessed March 4, 2009.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) fact sheet. American Lung Association. http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2058829&content_id={EE451F66-996B-4C23-874D-BF66586196FF}¬oc=1. Accessed March 4, 2009.
- What is COPD? National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Copd/Copd_WhatIs.html. Accessed March 4, 2009.
- Celli BR. Update on the management of COPD. CHEST. 2008;133:1451.
- Bruce ML, et al. COPD: Your role in early detection. The Nurse Practitioner Journal. 2007;32:25.
- Corbridge SJ, et al. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. AAOHN Journal. 2007;55:181.
- Rennard SI. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Definition, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and staging. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed March 4, 2009.
- Weiss ST. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Risk factors and risk reduction. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed March 4, 2009.
- Ferguson GT et al, Management of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed March 4, 2009.
- Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Global initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease. Medical Communications Resources, Inc. Accessed March 20, 2009.
