Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

Which of the following symptoms is not typically associated with emphysema?

1. A barrel-shaped chest

2. Pursed-lip breathing

3. A chest radiograph with infiltrates

4. Dyspnea when at rest

The correct answer is: A chest radiograph with infiltrates

The correct choice indicates that a chest radiograph with infiltrates is not typically associated with emphysema. Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) characterized by the destruction of the alveolar walls, leading to decreased surface area for gas exchange and resulting in symptoms such as shortness of breath and a barrel-shaped chest. In a chest radiograph, emphysema typically presents with hyperinflation of the lungs and a flattened diaphragm, rather than infiltrates. Infiltrates on a chest X-ray usually suggest the presence of infection, inflammation, or other pathologies such as pneumonia, which are not characteristic of emphysema. The other symptoms listed are commonly associated with emphysema. A barrel-shaped chest is a result of chronic air trapping in the lungs, resulting in an anterior-posterior diameter increase. Pursed-lip breathing is a technique often adopted by individuals with emphysema to help manage dyspnea by prolonging exhalation and improving airflow. Finally, dyspnea at rest indicates significant disease progression, which can occur in emphysema due to the severe reduction in the lungs' ability to exchange gases effectively.