What age do you generally develop emphysema?

[JimNotJon]

I'm 23 and over the past 3 months I have been having trouble with my breathing. I have been able to take full deep breaths (occassionally makes me feel dizzy when I do) no problem. It's quite difficult to explain, it feels like anxiety but it's not that as I don't lead a stressful life. Some days I don't seem to have the feelin much at all and others, like today I do. I have been to my doctor several times, he's listened to my heart and lungs and they sound ok, blew on that device that measures lung capacity and that was slightly better then average, had two blood tests done both came back fine and had an ECG done which was also fine. What is next? A chest xray? It's really getting to me now and seems to be making me more tired than normal. I have always had a bit of a cough that has never gone away, and when I was younger around the age of 12, I was told
I had mild asthma which I had a blue and brown inhaler for. I stopped using them as I had no real need and my current doctor says I don't have asthma.

Has anyone else ha similar symptoms and can give
me any suggestions?

James

[neenaw]

JimNotJon said:

What is next? A chest xray?

I can't imagine a chest x-ray showing up too much if there's been nothing else found so far.

Do you exercise regularly?
Are you a smoker?

I can't imagine it's emphysema at 23, it's usually brought on by years of abuse as far as I'm aware.

[arguti]

Get a chext xray and pulmonary function test done (sounds like you did a peak flow - one of the components)at the GP and then ask for a referral to a chest physician if your symptoms are as bad as you suggest. too early for Emphysema by there are many other conditions that can affect you.

[E21_Ross]

way to early for emphysema, and if you don't smoke, emphysema is almost unheard of even in old age.

IIRC something like 99% of emphysema sufferers are (or were) heavy smokers.

chest x-ray could potentially show metastatic tumour, but again, at 23 i think that's unlikely also. get to a respiratory/chest specialist.

[JimNotJon]

neenaw - My downfall is that I am overweight (I have been at a constant weight for a while now). I have been starting to diet though. This is the first time this year experiencing such a thing, so very much doubt the weight has caused it, but I am fully aware it isn't helping. I am always active, but I drive for living. The most exercise I get is in and out of my van all day and lifting crates to customers doors.

I don't smoke at all, and never have. My parents both smoke, but generally im not around when they are as they go out into the garden to do this. Same with a mate, he smokes alot so when I am out with him every other evening I am exposed to second hand smoke, but I wouldnt say for more than 4 hours a night.

arguti - I think that is my next port of call with my doctor, he did suggest a chest xray if there are no further improvements. Peak Flow, thats the jobbie I was trying to name. What other conditions could it possibly be? Bronchitis or Asthma? Just seemed to come on too suddon and lasting too long to be either.

E21 Ross - I do hope it isn't anything that serious. I have had a lump on my lower right back for about a year and a half now, which about 3 months ago (around the same time I started having breathing difficulties) I went to the doctors and he said it doesn't feel cancerous and it will be a fatty tumour, totally harmless. I had gone to the doctors a few months prior to that and a different doctor said the same, this couldn't be related could it?

[E21_Ross]

JimNotJon said:

E21 Ross - I do hope it isn't anything that serious. I have had a lump on my lower right back for about a year and a half now, which about 3 months ago (around the same time I started having breathing difficulties) I went to the doctors and he said it doesn't feel cancerous and it will be a fatty tumour, totally harmless. I had gone to the doctors a few months prior to that and a different doctor said the same, this couldn't be related could it?

trust me, if you don't smoke, it's not emphysema.
it's possible a lipoma (fatty tumour) may cause some irritation if it's around the ribs, and therefore cause you to cough every now and again but i doubt that's the cause of breathing difficulty. and no, at 23 it's highly unlikely to be metastatic tumour

i would have said possible long term infection but if the GP did the auscultation/fremitus (hearing lung sounds) properly, then this can rule out this, as well as other things such as tumours, inflammation, fibrous scarring (although not ALL tumours etc)

you mention you stopped using the inhalers, this wasn't just before the problem started, without pointing out the obvious but don't recall whether you said that.

it's a strange one i'll give you that....

Edited by E21_Ross on Tuesday 20th April 16:07

[JimNotJon]

It would of been 12 years ago when I stopped using the inhalers, I very rarley used them anyway as it was a "as when you need them" situation. I have a week off next week, will get booked in again and press for more tests.