Barrel chest. Must be emphysema?

Barrel chest is not necessarily emphysema, but may also be caused by other reasons, such as severe asthma, kyphosis, spinal tuberculosis, etc., need to be combined with clinical symptoms, lung function tests and other clear diagnosis. Barrel chest is not necessarily emphysema, the following is a specific analysis: Barrel chest refers to the chest before and after the diameter increases, sometimes almost equal to the left and right diameter, a barrel shape. Common causes are: emphysema: It is one of the most common causes of barrel chest. Due to the decreased elasticity of the airway distal to the terminal bronchioles, excessive expansion, inflation, and increase in lung volume, or a pathological condition accompanied by destruction of the airway wall, the anteroposterior diameter of the thorax increases, resulting in barrel chest. Severe asthma: Severe asthma attacks, due to airway smooth muscle spasm, mucosal edema, increased secretions and other reasons, leading to airway stenosis and alveolar hyperinflation, can also appear barrel chest. Other conditions: severe kyphosis, spinal tuberculosis and other diseases, can lead to thoracic deformity, can also be manifested as barrel chest. However, it should be noted that barrel chest is not always caused by emphysema or other lung diseases. Other causes, such as older people, obese people, athletes, etc., may also be barrel chest due to relatively developed chest muscles. Moreover, there is no direct correlation between the severity of barrel chest and the severity of emphysema. Some mild cases of emphysema may present only as mild changes in the thorax, while severe cases may not be accompanied by barrel chest. If barrel chest is found, it should be further clarified in conjunction with clinical symptoms and pulmonary function tests. Barrel chest is one of the common signs of emphysema, but barrel chest may also occur in other lung diseases or non-lung diseases. Therefore, barrel chest is not necessarily emphysema. Other factors need to be considered to confirm the diagnosis. If there is doubt about barrel chest or other chest problems, it is recommended to seek medical attention in time for detailed examination and evaluation in order to formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Key information: 1. barrel chest is not necessarily emphysema, but may be caused by other reasons. 2. Pulmonary emphysema can lead to barrel chest, but the degree of barrel chest is not necessarily related to the severity of emphysema. 3. If barrel chest is found, seek medical attention promptly and conduct a comprehensive examination to determine the cause.