A member asked:

What are blue bloaters with regards to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Donald Alves answered

Specializes in Emergency Medicine

Old terms (from EMS): The classic "blue bloater" was defined as someone w/mostly lung disease as source of resp problems (copd/emphysema/chr. Bronchitis). Poor oxygenation is chronic (="blue") & poor expiration/air trapping / barrell-shaped-chest (="bloating"). "pink puffers" (alt group), are due to heart failure and fluid buildup, usually w/pink sputum when cough.

Answered 1/20/2013

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