Description

Healthy lungs contain 300 million alveoli, elastic air SACS where oxygen in the blood and removes carbon dioxide. Emphysema develops when the alveoli membrane are destroyed. Although this process occurs slowly and does not affect all alveoli to the same extent that it affects the lung's ability to function, what the amount of time, the air once or exit the lungs. This leads to shortness of breath.

Even chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema commonly affects long-term, heavy cigarette smokers, but cigar and pipe smokers are also at increased risk. Smoking causes irritation and the division of alvioli.

Smokers are not the only people who develop emphysema, however. Occupational exposure to chemicals, dust, fumes and may also be a person in danger. Some people are genetically predisposed to the condition, caused by a lack of the enzyme alpha-1-antitrypsin, which protects the integrity of elastic fibers in the walls of the alveoli. People with low alpha-1-antitrypsin usually develop severe emphysema sometime in their 20s or 30s.

Signs and symptoms

Shortness of breath worsened, with the time

Chronic, mild cough, the small amounts of mucus

Declining tolerance of physical activity

An enlarged breasts

Weight Loss

Conventional medical treatment

If you suspect you have emphysema, see your doctor immediately. To diagnose emphysema, your doctor takes an inventory of your symptoms, reviews your medical history and perform a lung function test and chest X-rays.

There is no cure for emphysema. Therapy you can learn how your lungs as efficiently as possible, making the disease progressing. They can also be taught breathing techniques to enable most of the limited air flow. To increase the efficiency of your lungs, in regular, non-strenuous exercise, such as walking or leisurely cycling. Your doctor may be a bronchodilator or anti-inflammatory medications such as theophylline, sympathomimetics, anti-cholingergics, or corticosteroids.

In severe cases, home oxygen therapy, where pure oxygen is pumped through a pipe from a portable tank may be necessary. Surgery is also an option in severe cases. Relatively new surgical options include lung transplantation and volume reduction surgery, where up to 30 percent of the diseased parts of the lung removed.

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