What are the signs and symptoms of emphysema?
The two main symptoms of emphysema are: • Coughing (especially coughing up a lot of mucus and phlegm) • Shortness of breath If you have a persistent cough, you should go to see your doctor. If you are a smoker, you may think that your cough is ‘normal’ but it could be a sign that you are damaging your lungs. Other symptoms of emphysema include: • Weight loss • Tiredness • Weak bones that break easily • Swollen ankles People with emphysema often experience ‘attacks’ of the condition. This is when their symptoms suddenly get worse. They will find it harder to breathe and cough a lot more. They will also bring up mucus which is thicker than usual and yellow or greenish in colour. Emphysema can get progressively worse if damage to lungs continues. In bad cases of emphysema breathing will worsen considerably. With less oxygen getting around your body, your energy levels will slump and your skin may turn a blue colour (cyanosis). In really extreme cases patients have to breathe in oxygen thr
