The phrase "barrel chest" refers to a swelling, wrinkled chest that looks like the contour of a barrel
Barrel chest is not a medical condition, but it can mean an underlying medical condition. Many people who are diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive lung disease) also develop a slightly bulged, barrel chest at the end of their illness.
The term barrel comes from a medical term, pulmonology. Pulmonologists are medical doctors who specialize in the study of lungs. They study the anatomy and function of the lungs and how they can be affected by various conditions and diseases.
Barrel chests are often referred to as "pulmonary masses." Pulmonary masses (PMs) are small air sacs filled with fluid, blood, or both, which have been found in the lungs, heart, or other parts of the body. In some cases, the PMs have caused damage to the lungs, heart, or other organs and they need to be removed surgically.
Because many medical professionals view bulging or barrel chests as a symptom of COPD, doctors often perform diagnostic tests on patients who have bulging or barrel chests. Sometimes, the doctor will take a CT scan of the patient's chest. If the scan shows that the bulge or barrel chest has increased the size, then the doctor will order tests which will be able to determine the cause. One common test that doctors do is to try to insert a needle through the skin into the chest cavity, to check for blockages in the passages of the lungs.
In many cases, if the blockages are very small, then the surgeon can remove them and put in replacement lungs. If the blockages are large, then surgery may be necessary to remove them and get the lungs in working order. In some cases, a lung replacement may be required.
Other tests doctors may want to do include x-rays of the chest, lungs, and heart. If there are too many blockages in one or more of these areas, the doctor may need to replace the damaged lungs with higher quality lungs. or, if possible, remove part of the damaged lung.
Other causes of breast swelling or discomfort may include smoking and pregnancy. If you smoke, you may notice that your breasts get bigger after a few months of quitting smoking. Even if you are not pregnant, you may develop a bulge or trunk if you experience breathing difficulties due to pregnancy. When you quit smoking, it is always best to stop cold turkey rather than abruptly to avoid complications.
If you have any of the aforementioned medical conditions, you should talk to your doctor to find out what he / she recommends. If you suspect that you have bloated or cylindrical breasts, see your doctor right away. Your doctor can tell you if a bulge or barrel chest is a symptom of something serious or a sign of another problem that needs attention.
To reduce symptoms of bloating or barrel-shaped breasts, you can try breathing exercises, exercise on your own, take deep, long breaths, or take aspirin or ibuprofen. If that doesn't work, you may need to have surgery to fix the problem.
If you smoke, you should talk to your doctor about quitting smoking. Smoking can contribute to complications of lung damage and blockage. Smoking can also affect your lungs by damaging the lining. Your doctor can tell you if you should quit smoking or you should try to quit smoking slowly.
If you are having chest pain, you should see your physician to rule out any other possible illnesses. Chest pain is one of the most common symptoms of COPD, so if you feel chest pain that is severe or lasts more than a few days, you should visit your doctor.
You may have bulging or barrel chest if your physician determines that you have lung disease, bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia, or tuberculosis. In some rare cases, the chest pain can be caused by an infection called tuberculosis. If you have bronchitis, you may not have bulging or barrel chest because your physician may not be able to determine the problem, but the symptoms may be related to lung infection.