Barrel chest generally refers to a broad, deep chest found on a patient (or other person). A barrel chested person will usually have a naturally large ribcage, very round (i.e., vertically cylindrical) torso, large lung capacity, and can potentially have great upper body strength. It can sometimes be found alongside acromegaly (an enlargement of the extremities resulting from excess levels of human growth hormone (HGH) in the body). Barrel chest, as a medical condition, is most commonly related to osteoarthritis as individuals age. Arthritis can stiffen the chest causing the ribs to become fixed in their most expanded position, giving the appearance of a barrel chest.[1]
Barrel chest refers to an increase in the anteroposterior diameter of the chest wall resembling the shape of a barrel, most often associated with emphysema. There are two main causes of the barrel chest phenomenon in emphysema:
Barrel chest occurs naturally in native people who live at altitudes of over 5500 m, e.g. the Himalayas or the Andes. These natives also have polycythemia and other accommodations for high altitude life.[3]