Emphysema

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COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder)	Emphysema	Lungs	Quitting smoking
Respiratory system	Smoking and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder)	Spirometry

• Shortness of breath
• Chronic cough with or without sputum production
• Wheezing
• Decreased ability to exercise

• Anxiety
• Unintentional weight loss
• Ankle, feet, and leg swelling
• Fatigue

A physical examination may show wheezing, decreased breath sounds, or prolonged exhalation (exhalation takes more than twice as long as inspiration). The chest may be barrel-shaped. There may be signs of chronically insufficient oxygen levels in the blood.

These tests help confirm the diagnosis:

• Pulmonary function tests
• Chest x-ray
• Arterial blood gases showing low levels of oxygen in the blood (hypoxemia), and high levels of carbon dioxide ( respiratory acidosis )

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• Pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scan
• Chest CT scan

Review Date: 10/31/2005
Reviewed By: Frederic F. Little, M.D., Department of Allergy and Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.