Qualified Medication Aides (QMA) Practice Exam

What are common symptoms of pulmonary emphysema?

1. Wheezing and coughing

2. Barrel chest, pursed lips, cyanosis

3. Chest tightness and fever

4. Rapid breathing and dry skin

The correct answer is: Barrel chest, pursed lips, cyanosis

The correct choice identifies symptoms that are hallmark indicators of pulmonary emphysema, a condition characterized by damage to the air sacs in the lungs, leading to difficulty in breathing. Barrel chest, often observed in individuals with emphysema, results from the lungs being over-inflated with air, causing the ribs to remain in an expanded position. This physical change is a direct manifestation of the lung's inability to efficiently expel air, resulting in air trapping. Pursed lips breathing is a technique employed by patients with emphysema to help maintain airway stability and facilitate more effective exhalation, thereby improving air exchange. Cyanosis, the bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes, may occur due to inadequate oxygen exchange in the alveoli, reflecting reduced oxygen saturation levels in the blood. These symptoms are specific to the pathophysiology of pulmonary emphysema and represent the body's response to chronic low oxygen levels and impaired gas exchange.