Why is dyspnea prominent in emphysema?
Disease description:
My husband has recently been experiencing frequent chest tightness and difficulty breathing. He already has emphysema, so I'd like to know why breathing difficulties are particularly noticeable in emphysema?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Xiao Ning
Emphysema causes difficulty in breathing, typically due to various factors leading to reduced elasticity of the distal airways beyond the terminal bronchioles, resulting in overexpansion and inflation, increased lung volume, elevated residual lung capacity, and accompanying alveolar wall destruction. These changes lead to restrictive ventilatory dysfunction. If symptoms are severe, respiratory failure may occur.
