COPD An Overview of Hyperinflated Lungs What to Know About Pulmonary Hyperinflation By Deborah Leader, RN Deborah Leader, RN Deborah Leader RN, PHN, is a registered nurse and medical writer who focuses on COPD. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 14, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Daniel More, MD Medically reviewed by Daniel More, MD Daniel More, MD, is a board-certified allergist and clinical immunologist with a background in internal medicine. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Frequently Asked Questions Hyperinflated lungs are those that are expanded beyond their normal size due to trapped air. Any condition that reduces how much you exhale can cause hyperinflated lungs, but it's most commonly associated with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Also known as pulmonary hyperinflation, overinflation of the lungs means you're limited in the amount of new air you can take in. This leads to a reduced amount of oxygen circulating in the body. Aside from breathing problems, hyperinflated lungs can sometimes lead to heart failure as well. This article looks at the symptoms and causes of this serious lung condition as well as how pulmonary hyperinflation is diagnosed and treated. Laura Porter / Verywell Symptoms It can often be hard to distinguish symptoms of pulmonary hyperinflation from those of the underlying condition that caused it. If you have hyperinflated lungs, you may experience: Difficulty inhalingStruggling to breathShortness of breathFatigueLow energy Exercise intolerance (the reduced ability to exercise) is common with lung hyperinflation. You may feel exhausted and short of breath even with normal activity. In the early stages, extreme exercise intolerance may be the very first sign of pulmonary hyperinflation. Complications One of the biggest concerns about lung hyperinflation is that can affect the function of the heart. With hyperinflation, the increased pressure within the chest cavity (thorax) can cause changes to the left ventricle of the heart over time, These changes can reduce the ventricle's ability to pump blood out of the heart, leading to heart failure. Recap With pulmonary hypertension, the overinflation of the lungs can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, exercise intolerance, and difficulty inhaling. People with chronic hyperinflation have an increased risk of heart failure. Causes The major cause of hyperinflated lungs is COPD, a lung disease characterized by three conditions: Emphysema: The irreversible enlargement and destruction of the air sacs of the lungs, called alveoli Chronic bronchitis: The narrowing and clogging of the two main airways of the lungs, called the bronchi, due to long-standing inflammation Other causes include: Asthma Bronchiectasis Bronchiolitis Cystic fibrosis Recap COPD is the most common cause of pulmonary hypertension, although it can occur with other lung diseases like asthma, bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis, and cystic fibrosis. Diagnosis The diagnosis of pulmonary hyperinflation typically involves a physical exam, a review of your medical history, and imaging tests. As part of the physical exam, the doctor will listen for strange breath sounds with a stethoscope, including those indicating valve regurgitation or a heart murmur. A person with hyperinflated lungs may also have a "barrel chest" in which the chest appears inflated all the time. Lung hyperinflation can be detected with imaging tests, including: Chest X-rays, which provide detailed images of the lungs, heart, and airways Computed tomography (CT) scan, which composites multiple X-ray images to create three-dimensional "slices" of the chest cavity Echocardiogram, use to check for problems with the heart Your doctor may perform pulmonary function tests (PFTs), a series of non-invasive tests that show how well your lungs are working. PFTs measure lung volume, lung capacity, rates of airflow, and the exchange of gases. Because of the non-specificity of symptoms, pulmonary hyperinflation can be difficult to diagnose and typically requires a pulmonologist who specializes in diseases of the lungs. Recap Pulmonary hyperinflation can be diagnosed with a combination of a physical exam, a review of your medical history, imaging tests, and pulmonary functions tests (PFTs). Pulmonary Function Tests Treatment There are several treatments used in the treatment of lung hyperinflation, some of which are more invasive than others. These include: Bronchodilators: Medications that help expand the bronchi Breathing exercises: Including purse-lipped breathing to help expand the airways Oxygen therapy: To restore blood oxygen to healthy, normal levels Lung-volume reduction surgery: A type of surgery used to alleviate the compression of the lungs and heart when other options fail Recap Depending on the severity of pulmonary hyperinflation, the treatment may involve bronchodilators, breathing exercises, oxygen therapy, and lung-volume reduction surgery. Summary Pulmonary hyperinflation is a condition associated with COPD and other lung diseases which causes them to overinflate. This can lead to shortness of breath, fatigue, difficulty inhaling, and exercise intolerance. Asthma, cystic fibrosis, and bronchiectasis are other possible causes. Pulmonary hyperinflation can diagnose with a physical exam, imaging tests, and pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Depending on its severity, pulmonary hyperinflation can be treated with bronchodilators, breathing exercises, oxygen therapy, or lung-volume reduction surgery. A Word From Verywell It can be distressing to be diagnosed with lung hyperinflation, especially if you are already living with COPD. But, there are things you can do help manage your symptoms and reduce your risk of complications. This includes quitting cigarettes, avoiding secondhand smoke and airborne pollutants, and taking your COPD medications as prescribed. Frequently Asked Questions How do breathing techniques help with hyperinflated lungs? Exercises like pursed lip-breathing have been found to improve oxygen saturation at rest in people with COPD. One small study found that it also increased exercise tolerance and endurance and even increased airway capacity in some. At what stage of COPD does lung hyperinflation occur? Lung hyperinflation can occur in any stage of COPD, but it tends to be more severe in the advanced stages. Studies have found that dynamic hyperinflation (in which you start a new breath before fully exhaling) is present in all stages of COPD. 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Xu Y, Yamashiro T, Moriya H, et al. Hyperinflated lungs compress the heart during expiration in COPD patients: a new finding on dynamic-ventilation computed tomography. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2017;12:3123-31. doi:10.2147/COPD.S145599 Hui S, How CH, Tee A. Does this patient really have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?. Singapore Med J. 2015;56(4):194-6. doi:10.11622/smedj.2015058 Cabral LF, D'Elia Tda C, Marins Dde S, Zin WA, Guimarães FS. Pursed lip breathing improves exercise tolerance in COPD: a randomized crossover study. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2015;51(1):79-88. Gagnon P, Guenette JA, Langer D, et al. Pathogenesis of hyperinflation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2014;9:187–201. Additional Reading Milenkovic B, Janjic SD, Popevic S. Review of lung sealant technologies for lung volume reduction in pulmonary disease. Med Devices (Auckl). 2018 Jun;11:225-31. doi:10.2147/MDER.S127136 Rossi A, Aisanov Z, Avdeev S, et al. Mechanisms, assessment and therapeutic implications of lung hyperinflation in COPD. Respir Med. 2015 Jul;109(7):785-802. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2015.03.010 Struß N, Bauersachs J, Welte T, Hohlfeld JM. Left heart function in COPD : Impact of lung deflation. Herz. 2019 Sep;44(6):477-82. doi:10.1007/s00059-019-4816-5 By Deborah Leader, RN Deborah Leader RN, PHN, is a registered nurse and medical writer who focuses on COPD. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit