What is a pink puffer?

A pink puffer is someone who suffers from emphysema. According to the McMaster Pathophysiology Review, the term comes from the fact that the patient often has a pinkish complexion due to a lack of cardiac output and increased breathing.

Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Those with emphysema may also be categorized as Type A COPD patients or may be said to have smoker's lung. Patients may also breathe more quickly, experience weight loss and lose muscle density due to a lack of oxygen. Other symptoms include a mild cough and symptoms of chronic bronchitis, and a chapter of Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics reveals that some patients have a bluish complexion rather than pink.