Emphysema symptoms

Emphysema symptoms By Mayo Clinic staff

Emphysema symptoms are mild to begin with but steadily get worse as the disease progresses. The main emphysema symptoms are:

Shortness of breath
Wheezing
Chest tightness
Reduced capacity for physical activity
Chronic coughing, which could also indicate chronic bronchitis
Loss of appetite and weight
Fatigue
When to see a doctor

You tire quickly, or you can't easily do the things you used to do
You can't breathe well enough to tolerate even moderate exercise
Your breathing difficulty worsens when you have a cold
Your lips or fingernails are blue or gray, indicating low oxygen in your blood You frequently cough up yellow or greenish sputum
You note that bending over to tie your shoes makes you short of breath You are losing weight

These signs and symptoms don't necessarily mean you have emphysema, but they do indicate that your lungs aren't working properly and should be evaluated by your doctor as soon as possible.