What Does Blue Bloater Mean

People with chronic bronchitis are sometimes called “blue bloaters” because of their bluish-colored skin and lips. Blue bloaters often take deeper breaths but can’t take in the right amount of oxygen.

What is found in a blue bloater?

Blue bloater is a generalized term referring to a person who is blue and overweight. They usually present with shortness of breath and they have a chronic cough. It’s an old term for what we would now recognize as severe chronic bronchitis.

How can you tell the difference between emphysema and chronic bronchitis?

The main difference between these conditions is that chronic bronchitis produces a frequent cough with mucus. The main symptom of emphysema is shortness of breath. Emphysema can sometimes arise due to genetics. An inherited condition called alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency can cause some cases of emphysema.