Patients with emphysema typically exhibit which type of breathing pattern?

Patients with emphysema often display a breathing pattern characterized by grunting, pursed lips, and rapid breaths. This is a compensatory mechanism to maintain adequate oxygenation and reduce the work of breathing. When the lungs are damaged, as in emphysema, patients tend to have difficulty exhaling air due to the loss of elastic recoil in the alveoli.

Pursed-lip breathing helps to keep the airways open longer during exhalation, allowing more air to be expelled from the lungs and preventing airway collapse. The rapid breathing pattern can occur as the body attempts to compensate for low oxygen levels and maintain an effective gas exchange, as they may struggle to oxygenate adequately due to the structural changes in the lungs.

Understanding this breathing pattern is crucial for both assessment and management of patients with emphysema, as it highlights the challenges they face and informs appropriate therapeutic strategies.