NREMT Paramedic

Answer: D - Patients that display “pink puffers,” or the polycythemia that occurs as excess red blood cells are produced, suffer from emphysema. Patients with emphysema tend to be pink in color because of polycythemia and are referred to as “pink puffers.” The polycythemia occurs as an excess of red blood cells is produced. Emphysema results from destruction of the alveolar walls distal to the terminal bronchioles. The disease is caused by exposure to noxious substances such as smoking.