Disease Insights: emphysema-pulmonary
Welcome to the ultimate guide on emphysema pulmonary. Here, you'll find answers to the most common questions to help you or your loved ones understand and manage this condition better.
Description for emphysema pulmonary
A chronic lung condition that causes shortness of breath due to damaged alveoli.
Symptoms of emphysema pulmonary
chest tightness, chronic cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, wheezing
Precautions for emphysema pulmonary
Quit smoking, Use prescribed inhalers regularly, Practice breathing exercises, Avoid air pollution and irritants
Questions Covered:
- what is emphysema pulmonary?
- What are the usual symptoms of emphysema pulmonary?
- causes of emphysema pulmonary?
- How do doctors usually figure out if someone has emphysema pulmonary, diagnosis?
- What are the possible complications that could arise from emphysema pulmonary?
- What are the ways to prevent emphysema pulmonary?
Answers:
Question: what is emphysema pulmonary?
Emphysema is a disease of the lungs. It occurs most often in people who smoke, but it also occurs in people who regularly breathe in irritants.
Emphysema destroys alveoli, which are air sacs in the lungs. The air sacs weaken and eventually break, which reduces the surface area of the lungs and the amount of oxygen that can reach the bloodstream. This makes it harder to breathe, especially when exercising. Emphysema also causes the lungs to lose their elasticity.
Emphysema is one of the two most common conditions that fall under the umbrella term chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The other major COPD condition is chronic bronchitis. Emphysema is an irreversible condition, so treatment aims to slow its progression and minimize symptoms.
Question: What are the usual symptoms of emphysema pulmonary?
Some people have emphysema for years without knowing it. Some of its first signs are shortness of breath and coughing, especially during exercise or physical exertion. This continues to get worse until breathing is difficult all the time, even when resting.
Other symptoms may include:
exhaustion
weight loss
depression
Some people may develop bluish-gray lips or fingernails from lack of oxygen. If this happens, seek medical attention immediately.
Question: causes of emphysema pulmonary?
According to the American Lung Association, 2 million adults (1.6 percent of people ages 18 years or older) had emphysema in 2018.
Rates were higher among males, non-Hispanic white people, and those over the age of 65. However, the rates among females have been increasing in recent decades, so the gap between the sexes has been decreasing.
Smoking tobacco is the main cause of emphysema. The more you smoke, the higher your risk of developing emphysema. This includes smoking cannabis.
Smoking leads to the death of more than 480,000 Americans a year, and 80 percent of those deaths are caused by COPD, including emphysema. Exposure to secondhand smoke also increases your risk of developing emphysema.
Other causes of, as well as potential risk factors for developing emphysema, may include:
exposure to high pollution chemical fumes or lung irritants
a genetic condition called alpha-1 deficiency can lead to a rare form of emphysema called alpha-1 deficiency-related emphysema.
history of childhood respiratory infections
a compromised immune system, especially as a result of HIV
rare disorders such as Marfan syndrome.
Question: How do doctors usually figure out if someone has emphysema pulmonary, diagnosis?
Your doctor will begin by getting your background and medical history, asking in particular whether you smoke and whether you're around hazardous fumes or pollutants at work or at home.
Various tests can detect emphysema, including:
imaging tests, such as X-rays and CT scans, to look at your lungs
blood tests, to determine how well your lungs are transferring oxygen
pulse oximetry, to measure the oxygen content of your blood
lung function tests, which measure how much air your lungs can breathe in and out and how well your lungs deliver oxygen into your bloodstream
arterial blood gas tests, to measure the amount of blood and carbon dioxide in your blood
electrocardiogram (ECG), to check heart function and rule out heart disease
Question: What are the possible complications that could arise from emphysema pulmonary?
When emphysema becomes severe or isn't properly treated, serious complications may occur. These may include:
pneumonia, which can bacterial or viral
many respiratory tract infections
cor pulmonale, which is failure of the right side of the heart
pneumothorax, which is when air collects between the lungs and the chest cavity that can lead to lung collapse
respiratory acidosis, which is when the lungs can't obtain enough oxygen, leading to coma
hypoxemia, which is when the lungs can't adequately oxygenate the blood
Question: What are the ways to prevent emphysema pulmonary?
Since emphysema is mainly caused by smoking tobacco, the best way to prevent it is to refrain from smoking. It's also important to stay away from harmful chemicals and fumes as well as heavy pollution.
The outlook for people with emphysema varies based on its severity. There's no cure for the disease, and it worsens with time, but you can slow its progression.
As a rule, smoking cigarettes speeds up the disease, so quitting is important.
Early detection of the disease is key, because people with emphysema can develop life threatening conditions when the lungs and heart become damaged over time.
It's important to stay healthy by eating well and getting exercise. With the aid of medications and therapies, you can live a long, healthy life with emphysema.
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Conclusion & Takeaways
Learning about emphysema pulmonary is the first step toward taking control of your health. By understanding its causes, symptoms, and treatments, you empower yourself to make informed decisions. Remember to consult healthcare professionals for personalized advice and support.