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Facts About Emphysema

Emphysema is a chronic, long-term lung disease that affects breathing because of damage to the air sacs. Tissue deteriorates over time and air becomes trapped in the lungs, causing a decrease in oxygen in the blood. Emphysema is grouped under the heading chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States.

  1. Types

    • Damage to the cilia, the tiny hairs in the bronchial tubes, by cigarette smoke is the leading cause of emphysema. Tobacco smoke prevents the cilia from cleaning germs and irritants out of the airways. Irritants move from the bronchial tubes into the lungs. The lungs' immune cells are also affected by smoking. A hereditary condition known as AAT deficiency can cause emphysema because of low levels of a protein that protects the elastic tissue in the lungs. Other conditions associated with emphysema are connective tissue disorders such as cutis laxa and Marfan syndrome.

    Warning

    • Older people can develop emphysema because their lungs don't function as well. Smog and other pollutants cause inflamed airways that lead to damaged lung tissue. Men are more likely than women to have emphysema, possibly because of the difference in hormones. Second-hand smoke and being exposed to chemicals or fumes can cause the disease.

    Identification

    • Shortness of breath is the most common symptom of emphysema. If even slight activity causes difficulty in breathing, or you cough up mucus that's colored, get tested. These are signs that your lungs aren't working right. If you become barrel chested, it could from air becoming trapped behind your airways.Persistent coughing or wheezing requires a doctor's attention.

    Expert Insight

    • Doctors will suggest different tests to check for emphysema, including a chest X-ray to rule out other causes, along with blood tests to check your white blood cell count. An arterial blood gas test tells how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are in your blood. Lung-function tests measure how much air your lungs can hold and how quickly they can exhale air.

    Prevention/Solution

    • If you stop smoking, it can slow down emphysema and improve lung functioning. Medications such as bronchodilators help open air passages. Antibiotics can shorten the length of time you're short of breath. Steroids can decrease inflammation and help you breathe better. Reducing the size of the lung can improve breathing, and lung transplants are sometimes be the closest thing to a cure for people in the last stages of emphysema.

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