Barrel Chest
As the name implies, the barrel chest is a barrel-like, bulging, and rounded look of the chest. This symptom is more common in advanced stages of emphysema. It is caused by the inflammation of your lungs, which makes the ribs expand to hold up excess air. While this is a typical shape, it is not easy to notice. Instead, you might need a visual examination to diagnose a barrel chest. As a result of this condition, you would experience tightness in the chest, including any type of discomfort or pain between your neck areas and upper belly. While it would indicate different health issues, barrel chest in combination with wheezing and cough can be indicative of emphysema. [6]
