Why people with severe emphysema have trouble with walking?

patricia1579 · Newbie Joined: 31 Mar 2005 Posts: 2

Hello! My grandfather has emphysema and he has trouble walking. He used to be a heavy smoker but he has reduced the number of cigarettes when his disease was discovered. We used to make long walks in the park almost every day and he had no problems till recently. He walks very slowly and I can hear wheezing from his chests. Why people with severe emphysema have trouble with walking?

petunia933 · Newbie Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 1

Hello! People with severe emphysema have trouble not only with walking but they feel gradual decrease in the ability to perform even simple daily activities. Emphysema is a long-term and progressive disease which causes shortness of breath at first. As the time passes the symptoms are getting more severe. In people with emphysema, the lung tissues are destroyed, they are not elastic and they can’t expand and contract well. If a person can’t breathe normally the whole body is not supplied with the oxygen needed to provide normal functioning of muscles and every organ of the body.

Why people with severe emphysema have trouble with walking?

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