Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) Practice Test

What history would lead you to suspect emphysema as the cause of a patient's respiratory distress?

1. The patient has a history of Marfan's disease

2. You can hear audible stridor upon inhalation

3. The patient has had a cough and fever for three days

4. History of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day

The correct answer is: History of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day

A history of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day is a significant risk factor for developing emphysema, a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Emphysema is primarily caused by long-term exposure to irritants that damage the lungs and airways, of which cigarette smoke is the most common. Smokers who have sustained this habit often experience progressive airway obstruction, resulting in chronic respiratory distress as the lung tissue becomes increasingly damaged. In this context, the link between smoking and the development of emphysema is well-documented, making this history highly suggestive when considering possible causes of a patient presenting with respiratory distress. The presence of other symptoms or factors, such as a cough, fever, or audible stridor, may indicate different respiratory conditions that do not specifically point towards emphysema. These other histories, while potentially concerning in their own right, do not carry the same significant correlation with emphysema as a long-term smoking history does.