What are the patients with emphysema commonly referred to as?

Patients with emphysema are commonly referred to as "pink puffers." This term describes the characteristic appearance and breathing patterns of individuals suffering from this condition. Emphysema is part of a group of diseases known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and it primarily affects the alveoli, which are the tiny air sacs in the lungs.

The term "pink puffers" arises from two key features of these patients. First, due to the loss of elastic recoil in the lungs, patients often exhibit pursed-lip breathing, which helps to maintain airway pressure and facilitates the emptying of air from the lungs. This breathing technique leads to a visible effort on their part, hence the term "puffer." Additionally, patients with emphysema tend to have a relatively normal oxygenation compared to those with chronic bronchitis, resulting in a healthier, pink appearance of the skin and lips, hence "pink."

This contrasts with "blue bloaters," which generally refers to patients with chronic bronchitis who experience significant airway obstruction and poorer gas exchange, leading to cyanosis and swelling. Other options like "white plumpers" and "red puffers" are not terminologies used in clinical practice to describe specific respiratory conditions.