pulmonary emphysema occurs when the alveoliin the lungs are gradually destroyed, making breathing progressively more difficult. emphysemaand chronic bronchitis are the two most common conditions which make up chronic obstructivepulmonary disease, or copd. as the condition worsens, the interior wallsof the alveoli weaken and deteriorate, creating one larger space instead of many smaller ones.this reduces both the surface area of the lungs and consequently the amount of oxygenreaching the bloodstream. emphysema also progressively destroys theelastic fibers which keep the bronchioles (small respiratory airways which lead to thealveoli) open. this leads to the collapse of these airways when you exhale, meaningthat air in the lungs cannot escape and there
is no space for fresh, oxygen-rich air toenter. it is possible to have had emphysema for manyyears without noticing any signs or symptoms of it. the main symptom of emphysema is breathlessness,which generally starts to get progressively worse. this shortness of breath does not tendto become a problem until it begins to interfere with everyday tasks. emphysema ultimatelycauses difficulty breathing even when you are resting. the principal cause of emphysema is long termexposure to airborne irritants such as tobacco and marihuana smoke or air pollution. riskfactors for emphysema include smoking, age, exposure to fumes, dust etc.
people with emphysema are more likely to experiencea pulmonary collapse, a condition called pneumothorax, heart problems and large blisters in the lungscalled blebs. your doctor may recommend a lung x-ray tohelp confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes, a computerized tomography scan, ablood analysis and respiratory tests such as a spirometry test which measures the volumeof air which the lungs can hold. emphysema has no cure, but treatment can helpto alleviate the symptoms and slow its progression. doctors will commonly prescribe drugs to helpyou to stop smoking, bronchodilator drugs to help relieve coughing, steroid medicationswhich are inhaled to relieve breathlessness and antibiotics in the case of a bacterialinfection.
a pulmonary rehabilitation program can beused to teach breathing exercises and techniques which can help to reduce shortness of breath. if you have severe emphysema with low oxygenlevels in the blood, you may be given extra oxygen to provide relief at home or when youdo exercise. many people need to use oxygen 24 hours a day. it is generally administeredthrough a thin tube which fits into your nostrils. depending on the severity of the emphysema,your doctor may suggest one or more different types of surgery, including a lung reductionor even a lung transplant. you can take certain measures to slow downits progression and to protect yourself from complications, such as for example: stoppingsmoking, avoiding irritants in the air such
as car exhaust fumes, paint fumes, some cookingsmells, perfumes, candles or incense, wearing a mask to protect your lungs if you work withchemical vapours or dust, doing regular exercise, and getting the vaccines which help to preventrespiratory infections.
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