Emphysema is a respiratory condition that limits airflow when you breathe out. Smoking is the leading cause of emphysema. When you have emphysema, the air sacs at the end of your smallest air passages are damaged and gradually destroyed. In some cases, mucus begins to form in the lungs, making it more difficult to breathe and even troublesome to remove the mucus. Symptoms begin as mild and get worse over time.
Respiratory Symptoms
Respiratory symptoms are the most common symptoms and occur most frequently in the early stages of emphysema. Shortness of breath is one of the primary symptoms. You may start to notice that you become winded when engaged in physical activity; however, as symptoms progress, you may have some shortness of breath even while resting. Over time, you may begin to take in longer breaths when you inhale or you may begin to wheeze.
Coughing
Coughing is another common symptom of early emphysema. The cough may start with you needing to clear your throat often or having the feeling of dryness in your throat. As symptoms progress, you might notice that the cough occurs regularly, everyday throughout the day. As your air sacs become more damaged, you may develop a "rattling cough" where you can hear the mucus in your lungs, although it may be difficult for you to cough it up.
Cardiovascular Symptoms
As the damage to your lungs and air sacs starts to progress, you may experience some tightness in your chest associated with changes to your breathing. A diminished capacity for physical activity is very common, as you might feel a general sense of fatigue on most days.
Changes in Eating Habits
Because your body is negatively impacted by the damage to your lungs, changes in eating habits, most specifically loss of appetite, can occur. Although you may not be as physically active, your body will naturally try to fight off your illness, so you may experience weight loss.
