Emphysema
Symptoms
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic cough with or without sputum production
- Wheezing
- Decreased ability to exercise
Exams and Tests
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:
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