Chest xray

[tlpounds]

I have had difficulty breathing and shortness of breath for about 1 1/2 years now.  I went to an internest recently for other problems and they did a spirometry measure, in which the nurse said I did extremely well (above 130%) for my height/weight.  I'm 38, 5'4, and 130 pounds.  The doctor had an x-ray done of my chest.

The x-ray showed mild increased hyperaeration with increased retrosternal air space.  There is some mild pleural thickening in the right upper apex.  No sign of a consolidation or effusion is seen.  Dardiac silhouette and vascularity are normal.  Bones are unremarkable.  

IMPRESSION:  1.  MILD HYPERAERATION
2.  MILD PLEURAL CHANGES.  NO SIGN OF SIGNIFICANT CONSOLIDATION, INFILTRATE OR PULMONARY NODULE.

My feet have been getting blue and purple like they are not getting any circulation to them.  Is this related?  Is this something to be concerned about?  

Thank you for your time!

[tlpounds]

Thank you.  I appreciate your assistance.  I wasn't sure if the x-ray would show stuff or not.  You gave me valuable information.  Thanks again.

[National Jewish]

Spirometry and a chest x-ray are useful to rule-out certain types of lung or heart problems, but not all types!  As an example there could be heart failure in conjunction with a normal size heart on a chest x-ray.  Also there could be significant disease of the blood vessels of the lung with a "normal" chest x-ray.  Talk with your doctor to see if you should have further testing to evaluate your heart.  This would include testing for blood clots to the lung and an exercise text with echocardiography.