Lung hyperinflation is common in people withchronic obstructive lung disease (COPD).
Hyperinflated lungs are also called pulmonary hyperinflation.
In addition to causing breathing problems, hyperinflated lungs can also lead to heart failure.
Laura Porter / Verywell
The reduced ability to exercise (exercise intolerance) is common with lung hyperinflation.
Other symptoms of hyperinflated lungs include:
Complications
Lung hyperinflation can affect the function of the heart.
These changes can reduce the ventricle’s ability to pump blood out of the heart, leading toheart failure.
Diagnosis
Pulmonary hyperinflation can be hard to diagnose because the symptoms are commonly seen with other conditions.
You’ll usually need to seea lung disease specialist(pulmonologist).
Your provider will listen for strange breath sounds with a stethoscope.
PFTs measure lung volume, lung capacity, rates of airflow, and the exchange of gases.
Treatment
The treatment for pulmonary hyperinflation depends on what is causing it.
Published 2014 Feb 15. doi:10.2147/COPD.S38934
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