What Is Emphysema?

What Is Emphysema? The lungs are responsible for taking in oxygen-rich air for the body and eliminating carbon dioxide. The pair of organs in the chest work this exchange through the alveoli, small sacs that looks like clusters of grapes. These sacs provide a large surface area so the exchange of gases to and from the blood can occur. With emphysema, the alveoli are weakened and eventually rupture, greatly reducing the surface area of the lungs and creating a large air space but insufficient for air exchanges. The damaged alveoli no longer function properly, trapping carbon dioxide and leaving little room for the needed oxygen-rich air.

Emphysema is an incurable condition, though proper treatment may alleviate symptoms and slow the disease’s rate of progression and damage.

What is Emphysema?


Emphysema is a progressive disease that causes shortness of breath. The air sacs and other lung tissue responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood are severely damaged or destroyed. Emphysema is one of a few diseases grouped as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder or COPD. It is an obstructive disease because the damaged alveoli cannot eliminate carbon dioxide, thus preventing oxygen from entering the lungs.

The destruction of lung tissue permanently alters the organs’ anatomy. Small airways called bronchioles that aid in the elimination of gases collapse when the tissue surrounding them is destroyed and the gas becomes trapped in the alveoli. This slows or even stops breathing.

Normal lung tissue is pink and resembles a new sponge. Lungs damaged by emphysema become dark with large holes, and lose their elasticity. The lungs expand during inhalation and then naturally relax on exhalation. The natural elastic function is impaired, trapping air and preventing the release of carbon dioxide. Emphysema’s destruction of healthy tissue affects the tiny capillaries and bronchioles. This, in turn, affects blood flow that would normally receive oxygen as well as destroying the alveoli.

What Are the Symptoms & Complication of Emphysema?
The symptoms primarily seen with emphysema include shortness of breath, rapid and shallow breathing, wheezing, appearance of a barrel chest, a chronic cough, decreased tolerance for exercise or other physical exertion, and Weight Loss due to decreased appetite. Eventually emphysema leads to respiratory failure.

Complications
Aside from the symptoms above, emphysema can have other complications. These include pulmonary Hypertension, which is high Blood Pressure in the lungs’ arteries, and Pneumothorax, which is a collapsed lung and can be fatal due to the weakened state of the lungs. Infections such as the Common cold, flu, and pneumonia">Pneumonia can occur repeatedly. The development of empty spaces in the lungs can occur, called giant bullae, taking up large areas of the lung. These giant bullae can become infected, causing pneumothorax. When pressure in the arteries connecting the lungs and heart increases, this creates a condition known as cor pulmonale in which the heart expands and weakens.

When to See a Doctor
You should see your doctor right away if you have experienced prolonged shortness of breath that progressively gets worse and interferes with daily activities. You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following conditions:

• Shortness of breath that keeps you from climbing stairs


• Exertion that causes your fingernails or lips to turn blue or grey


• You feel as though you have diminished mental alertness

What Are the Causes & Risk Factors of Emphysema?
Emphysema is the result of damage to the air sacs or alveoli of the lungs that is irreversible.

Major Cause of Emphysema
For most people the diagnosis of emphysema is the result of smoking. It isn’t clear yet how smoking destroys lung tissue but studies indicate that smokers are six times more likely to develop emphysema over non-smokers.

It is also believed that second-hand smoke may contribute to emphysema. Exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke is known to damage the lungs, and those with higher amounts of exposure, such as those who live with smokers or work in an environment where smoking is permitted, are at higher risk of emphysema.

Other Cause of Emphysema
Another major cause of emphysema is a deficiency in a substance called alpha-1 antitrypsin, though smoking is still a far greater cause.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a naturally occurring protein found in the blood which keeps white blood cells from causing damage to healthy tissue. White blood cells fight infection by destroying invading bacteria.

Continuous damage can occur to the lung tissue by the white blood cells because of the deficiency of this protein. A deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin is usually caused by a genetic condition. The result of combining this with smoking is catastrophic to the lungs.

Risk Factors
Factors that can increase your risk of developing emphysema, except smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke as described above, are charted below.

Risk Factors	Description
Age	While lung damage occurs gradually, those at risk for emphysema usually see the start of symptoms between the ages of 40 and 60.
Fumes or dust	Chemical fumes and dust from such products as wood, cotton, grain, or mining products can increase your risk of emphysema.
Air pollution	Indoor pollutants such as heating fumes and chemicals found in carpet or paint and outdoor pollutants such as exhaust fumes can lead to emphysema.

What Are the Treatments for Emphysema?
Medical Treatments
There are a number of options available for the treatment of the symptoms of emphysema, but remember that this is an irreversible condition. These include:

• Use of bronchodilators, which relax the airways and relieve some breathing problems


• Steroid aerosol sprays that when inhaled can ease shortness of breath


• Rehabilitation techniques such as breathing exercises, which can ease shortness of breath and improve exercise tolerance


• Antibiotics that are common for patients with emphysema due to the susceptibility of recurrent infections, while oxygen therapy is used for more severe symptoms and aid breathing


• Surgery that may be an option to remove some damaged lung tissue, helping them work better, and for more severe symptoms a lung transplant may be possible

Home Remedies

Behavior	Explanation
Stop smoking	This is the most important thing you can do to slow the progression of emphysema. There are a number of cessation tools and available to help you quit.
Avoid other respiratory irritants	Avoid fumes from chemicals and other substances, including candles and incense and change your air conditioner and furnace filters regularly.
Exercise regularly	Exercise regularly can help increase your lung capacity, keeping them healthy.
Protect yourself from cold air	Wear a scarf or mask in cold weather as cold air can cause spasms to the bronchioles making it difficult to breathe.
Prevent respiratory infections	Avoid contact with people with infections and be sure to get vaccinated against the flu and pneumonia. If you can’t avoid large crowds, wear a mask and wash your hands often.

For more information on Emphysema you can watch the following video:

What Is Emphysema?

What Is Emphysema?

The lungs are responsible for taking in oxygen-rich air for the body and eliminating carbon dioxide. The pair of organs in the chest work this exchange through the alveoli, small sacs that looks like clusters of grapes. These sacs provide a large surface area so the exchange of gases to and from the blood can occur. With emphysema, the alveoli are weakened and eventually rupture, greatly reducing the surface area of the lungs and creating a large air space but insufficient for air exchanges. The damaged alveoli no longer function properly, trapping carbon dioxide and leaving little room for the needed oxygen-rich air.

Emphysema is an incurable condition, though proper treatment may alleviate symptoms and slow the disease’s rate of progression and damage.

What is Emphysema?


Emphysema is a progressive disease that causes shortness of breath. The air sacs and other lung tissue responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood are severely damaged or destroyed. Emphysema is one of a few diseases grouped as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder or COPD. It is an obstructive disease because the damaged alveoli cannot eliminate carbon dioxide, thus preventing oxygen from entering the lungs.

The destruction of lung tissue permanently alters the organs’ anatomy. Small airways called bronchioles that aid in the elimination of gases collapse when the tissue surrounding them is destroyed and the gas becomes trapped in the alveoli. This slows or even stops breathing.

Normal lung tissue is pink and resembles a new sponge. Lungs damaged by emphysema become dark with large holes, and lose their elasticity. The lungs expand during inhalation and then naturally relax on exhalation. The natural elastic function is impaired, trapping air and preventing the release of carbon dioxide. Emphysema’s destruction of healthy tissue affects the tiny capillaries and bronchioles. This, in turn, affects blood flow that would normally receive oxygen as well as destroying the alveoli.

What Are the Symptoms & Complication of Emphysema?
The symptoms primarily seen with emphysema include shortness of breath, rapid and shallow breathing, wheezing, appearance of a barrel chest, a chronic cough, decreased tolerance for exercise or other physical exertion, and Weight Loss due to decreased appetite. Eventually emphysema leads to respiratory failure.

Complications
Aside from the symptoms above, emphysema can have other complications. These include pulmonary Hypertension, which is high Blood Pressure in the lungs’ arteries, and Pneumothorax, which is a collapsed lung and can be fatal due to the weakened state of the lungs. Infections such as the Common Cold, flu, and Pneumonia can occur repeatedly. The development of empty spaces in the lungs can occur, called giant bullae, taking up large areas of the lung. These giant bullae can become infected, causing pneumothorax. When pressure in the arteries connecting the lungs and heart increases, this creates a condition known as cor pulmonale in which the heart expands and weakens.

When to See a Doctor
You should see your doctor right away if you have experienced prolonged shortness of breath that progressively gets worse and interferes with daily activities. You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following conditions:

• Shortness of breath that keeps you from climbing stairs


• Exertion that causes your fingernails or lips to turn blue or grey


• You feel as though you have diminished mental alertness

What Are the Causes & Risk Factors of Emphysema?
Emphysema is the result of damage to the air sacs or alveoli of the lungs that is irreversible.

Major Cause of Emphysema
For most people the diagnosis of emphysema is the result of smoking. It isn’t clear yet how smoking destroys lung tissue but studies indicate that smokers are six times more likely to develop emphysema over non-smokers.

It is also believed that second-hand smoke may contribute to emphysema. Exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke is known to damage the lungs, and those with higher amounts of exposure, such as those who live with smokers or work in an environment where smoking is permitted, are at higher risk of emphysema.

Other Cause of Emphysema
Another major cause of emphysema is a deficiency in a substance called alpha-1 antitrypsin, though smoking is still a far greater cause.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a naturally occurring protein found in the blood which keeps white blood cells from causing damage to healthy tissue. White blood cells fight infection by destroying invading bacteria.

Continuous damage can occur to the lung tissue by the white blood cells because of the deficiency of this protein. A deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin is usually caused by a genetic condition. The result of combining this with smoking is catastrophic to the lungs.

Risk Factors
Factors that can increase your risk of developing emphysema, except smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke as described above, are charted below.

Risk Factors	Description
Age	While lung damage occurs gradually, those at risk for emphysema usually see the start of symptoms between the ages of 40 and 60.
Fumes or dust	Chemical fumes and dust from such products as wood, cotton, grain, or mining products can increase your risk of emphysema.
Air pollution	Indoor pollutants such as heating fumes and chemicals found in carpet or paint and outdoor pollutants such as exhaust fumes can lead to emphysema.

What Are the Treatments for Emphysema?
Medical Treatments
There are a number of options available for the treatment of the symptoms of emphysema, but remember that this is an irreversible condition. These include:

• Use of bronchodilators, which relax the airways and relieve some breathing problems


• Steroid aerosol sprays that when inhaled can ease shortness of breath


• Rehabilitation techniques such as breathing exercises, which can ease shortness of breath and improve exercise tolerance


• Antibiotics that are common for patients with emphysema due to the susceptibility of recurrent infections, while oxygen therapy is used for more severe symptoms and aid breathing


• Surgery that may be an option to remove some damaged lung tissue, helping them work better, and for more severe symptoms a lung transplant may be possible

Home Remedies

Behavior	Explanation
Stop smoking	This is the most important thing you can do to slow the progression of emphysema. There are a number of cessation tools and available to help you quit.
Avoid other respiratory irritants	Avoid fumes from chemicals and other substances, including candles and incense and change your air conditioner and furnace filters regularly.
Exercise regularly	Exercise regularly can help increase your lung capacity, keeping them healthy.
Protect yourself from cold air	Wear a scarf or mask in cold weather as cold air can cause spasms to the bronchioles making it difficult to breathe.
Prevent respiratory infections	Avoid contact with people with infections and be sure to get vaccinated against the flu and pneumonia. If you can’t avoid large crowds, wear a mask and wash your hands often.

For more information on Emphysema you can watch the following video:

Emphysema Life Expectancy

Emphysema Life Expectancy

Emphysema is a condition that is characterized by the over inflation of the alveolar sacs, it is a progressive disease which results in rupturing of alveolar sacs and even in Atelectasis (commonly called as lung collapse). Due to this over inflation of alveoli the elasticity of the alveoli is also decreased; making emphysema more complicated and troublesome. A physician can assess the progression of disease by staging the symptoms presented by the patient. Although every case is different and unique and describes different stages, this staging can help in identifying the prognosis as no stagingsystem can accurately predict the future condition of a person.

What Is Emphysema Life Expectancy?
Emphysema Staging
Pulmonary function testing is performed for evaluating emphysema stage. Two major staging systems are used, namely GOLD staging system and BODE staging system.

GOLD Staging System in Emphysema

GOLD staging system is ‘Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease’. The GOLD staging system depends upon FEV-1, commonly termed as forced expiratory volume, in which the amount exhaled through lungs forcefully is measured. It is one of the widely accepted methods of staging emphysema.

Stage I	Mild emphysema	Forced expiratory volume is equal to or greater than 80 percent of normal value.
Stage II	Moderate emphysema	Forced expiratory volume is less than 80 percent but greater than 50 percent of normal value.
Stage III	Severe emphysema	Forced expiratory volume is less than 50 percent but greater than 30 percent of normal value.
Stage IV	Very severe emphysema	Forced expiratory volume is less than 30 percent of normal value.

BODE Staging System in Emphysema

The BODE staging system is used to measure impact of emphysema on other areas, other than only measuring FEV-1.

B	Stands for Body mass index and measures body weight according to height.
O	Stands for obstruction, measures pulmonary functioning.
D	Stands for dyspnea, measures breathlessness condition.
E	Stands for exercise capacity, measures working ability. This is done by measuring how far a person can walk in 5 to 6 minutes

The higher BODE score is, the higher the risk of death, below is the detail of BODE staging:

Emphysema Life Expectancy
The life span of an emphysema patient primarily depends upon its stage. Due to varying stages the life expectancy also varies from patient to patient and same goes for the prognosis too. One of the other factors which can describe patient’s life expectancy is how the patient is responding to different treatment methods.

According to different studies it is concluded that the higher the stage of emphysema the lower will be the chances of long term life. An estimate has been provided by BODE and GOLD staging systems, according to which,

• Approximately 80 percent of the patients with mild emphysema lived more than four years after the diagnosis.


• 60 to 70 percent of patients with moderate emphysema were alive after four years.


• 50 percent of patients with severe emphysema were alive after four years.

It should be noticed that the variation among life expectancy in emphysema patients is very high, even the patients with same stage of disease are identified with different life span. Some patients who show more flexibility with the treatment method are reported with one year more life than the predicted span of life.

Which Factors Affect Emphysema Life Expectancy?
1. Smoking
Smoking is considered as the predominant factor for determining emphysema life expectancy. Avoiding smoking can variably increase the percentage life expectancy in emphysema patients. Following are some tips to reduce emphysema symptoms.

• Try to stay away from people who smoke frequently


• Try to avoid going in rooms where smoke is present


• Spent the time in ventilated rooms


• Maintain good air quality in the surrounding


• Avoid use of chemicals which releases fumes

Other than smoking some of the other factors which contribute in determining life expectancy of emphysema include,

2. Weight of the Patient
The person should maintain a good body weight. The BMI (body mass index) of the patient must remain in healthy limits.

3. Overall Health of Patient
The overall health should considerably be good and intake of healthy diet and proper exercise should be done to main health.

4. Disease Conditions

• It should be noticed that emphysema exacerbates other disease conditions such as Diabetes and other chronic diseases.


• Heart problems resulting as a complication of emphysema may even cause death.

5. Dust and Fumes

• Exposure to dust and chemical fumes may decrease the life expectancy in emphysema patients.


• Indoor and outdoorfumes such as car exhaust and heating fuel can also complicate the condition.

Emphysema Treatment
Although it is difficult to treat emphysema but there are ways through which symptoms can be minimized and emphysema life expectancy can be improved.

1. Quit Smoking
Avoid smoking and also avoid going in areas where cigarette smoke is present.Medications which are used for cessation of smoking include vareniciline and bupropionHCL.

2. Maintain High Quality Nutrition and Reduce Stress
Stress and Depression regarding the disease can exaggerate the condition and can make it worse. Similarly maintenance of good health through nutrition also plays a vital role in increasing life expectancy in emphysema.

3. Medications

• Bronchodilators are used for relieving bronchial construction, making it comfortable for the person to easily breathe.Medications used as bronchodilators include ipratropium and albuterol.


• Corticosteroids:Inhaled corticosteroids are prescribed to decrease the inflammation of bronchial airways. Examples include beclomethasone and fluticasone. They must be used with caution as their excessive use may result in high Blood Pressure and diabetes.

4. Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Different breathing exercises are performed to increase the pulmonary efficiency.

5. Surgery
Lung transplant or lung volume reduction is done in very severe cases to increase efficiency of functioning parts.

Experience Shared By Others:

My uncle, my mother’s brother was diagnosed with end stage of emphysema. The physician told us that he has only a year or maximum 3 years to live, but lived for 8 years after that physician’s statement. I believe that it is only the matter how an individual keep himself, spending a joyful and stress free life in this disease can improve one’s condition greatly.

Emphysema

Emphysema






Emphysema belongs to group of diseases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Smoking is the major cause of emphysema and most of the time the damages done to the lungs are irreversible. Emphysema cannot be cured and only some of the symptoms are treated. Medications and oxygen supplements are effective methods of treating emphysema. Emphysema is a chronic disorder affecting the quality of life for long-term.

How it happens?

As a person smokes, nicotine in the cigar reaches the lungs to cause damage to the air sacs or alveoli. As more and more of nicotine damages the air sacs the soft tissues are destroyed forming big spaces inside. Now air gets trapped in this space leading to enlargement of lungs building more pressure inside (pulmonary Hypertension). The air sacs called alveoli are continuously damaged in the lungs leading to shortness of breath. Inner walls of these sacs are weakened and subsequently they will rupture forming a big space inside the lungs.

This will reduce the total area of the lungs which would have a direct effect on oxygen consumption. The lungs may not be able to breathe properly since it cannot get oxygenated air as before. To compensate the loss of oxygen the body automatically increases the breathing rate. After some days or weeks, increased rate of breathing is not enough to maintain the required oxygen consumption. Subsequently the lungs get narrowed leading to pulmonary hypertension.

Symptoms :

There are lots of people who may not have any symptoms for years together but still the process of emphysema is slowly happening inside the lungs. It causes shortness of breath and choking. But even at this stage the person will avoid doing certain activities that require more of oxygen and hence he may ignore the symptom. The problem will get noticed when the affected person have difficulty in managing daily tasks. For some people due to loss of oxygenated blood, fingernails will become blue in color. Even their mental stability will get diminished.

Causes :

Smoking is the main cause of emphysema. In addition, air pollution, long time exposure to tobacco smoke (passive smoking) and workplace related smoke like fumes can also cause emphysema. In rare cases emphysema is inherited due to protein deficiency.

Risk Factors :

Smoking of any kind, old age, over exposure to any kind of smoke and workplace related fumes are the major risk factors for emphysema. In severe case, emphysema can collapse the lungs leading to life threatening situations. It can also cause heart problems.

Tests :

After collecting the medical history the doctor would ask for the symptoms of shortness of breath and choking. He would request for imaging test like chest X-ray to check how far the disease has advanced. Blood test is done for checking the capacity of lungs to transfer the oxygen into the body. Special lung function test can also be done to measure the functionality of the lungs.

Treatment :

The damage caused by emphysema is irreversible. Some of the symptoms can be managed by effective medications and therapy. Bronchodilators and corticosteroid drugs are largely used for managing shortness of breath. To treat bacterial infection on the lungs, antibiotics are prescribed.

Therapies like pulmonary rehabilitation are helpful in learning various breathing exercises. In addition the affected person will be asked to take nutritious food to manage the right weight. For some people supplementary oxygen is needed at home and workplace. Surgery is done only if the symptoms are severe. Lung transplantation is done only if there is no other option. For some people, small volumes of the lungs that are badly damaged are removed by surgery.

Lifestyle Changes :

To begin with the person has to quit smoking to prevent further damage. Avoid working in Allergy prone environment like fumes and automobile smoke. Stay away from strong perfumes and incense sticks. Do your exercise regularly which helps in getting rid of breathing problems. Keep your home clean and pollution free. Take precautions during winter by wearing scarf to protect your lungs from cold air. Use face mask when you need to mingle with people since you may get infection from them.

Pictures of Emphysema :

Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Emphysema

Coping :

Even the daily routine activities can become tiresome for you, if you cannot breathe properly. You can no longer take place in long time entertainment. Accept this change and join a support group to express your feelings.

Prevention :

Avoid smoking completely and do not get involved even with passive smoking. This can only prevent you from emphysema.