Emphysema is a chronic (long-term) lung disease that can get worse over time. It's usually caused by smoking. Having emphysema means some of the air sacs in your lungs are damaged, making it hard to breathe.
Emphysema is part of a lung disease known as COPD.
What causes emphysema?
Emphysema can be caused by one or a combination of these things:
Cigarette smoking: Most cases of emphsyema are caused by cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoke reaches deep into the lungs and causes permanent damage. If you have emphysema from cigarettes, the best way to stop your lung damage is to quit smoking as soon as possible. It's never too late to quit smoking. Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency: Some people have emphsyema because of a rare genetic disorder called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency. People with Alpha-1 are missing an enzyme that protects their lungs. Some people with Alpha-1 deficiency get emphysema without ever having smoked. Other people get emphsyema from the combination of smoking and having Alpha-1 deficiency. Air pollution: There is some evidence that air pollution can contribute to people getting emphysema, especially if the person also smokes. Signs and symptoms of emphysemaShortness of breath- feeling like you can't get your breath out A barrel-shaped chest Wheezing Feeling tired (fatigue) Losing weight without trying People might think that feeling short of breath is a normal sign of aging- but it's not. If you have these signs and symptoms, see your doctor. Ask for spirometry, a simple test that measures how much air you move out of your lungs.
These signs and symptoms will not go away over time- they will get worse. The sooner you see the doctor, the sooner you can find out how to feel better.
Treatment for emphysema
There is no cure for emphysema, but it is possible to slow down the disease and make it easier to live with the symptoms.
The number one treatment for emphysema is to quit smoking and stay away from smoky places. By quitting smoking, you can slow down emphysema. Find out more about how to quit smoking.
There are other treatments for emphysema, including medications, supplemental oxygen, and more. Emphysema is part of a lung disease known as COPD. Read more about treating COPD (including emphysema).
What can be expected with emphysema?
People with emphysema can live for a long time after they are diagnosed. If you have emphysema, how long you'll live depends on many things:
What age you were diagnosed at How bad your lung damage is Whether you keep smoking, cut back or quit (cutting back is a start, quitting is the best!) What kind of medical care and treatment you get What other health problems you might have People with emphysema eventually die from it, or from a complication of it.
Complications of emphysema:
Recurring chest infections, including pneumonia, the flu, cold, etc.
Pulmonary hypertension: abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs
Cor pulmonale: enlargement and strain on the right side of the heart .
Increased blood count .
If you have emphysema and you smoke, it's important to quit smoking. See your doctor to get proper treatment, so that you'll live as long and as comfortable a life as possible.
Why quitting smoking helps improve emphysema symptoms .Emphysema gets worse over time if you continue to smoke or breathe dirty air. The damage doesn't stop until you stop smoking and stop breathing dirty air. By quitting smoking now, you can't undo the damage that's already done, but you can protect your lungs from any more damage.
Why quitting smoking helps improve emphysema symptoms .Emphysema gets worse over time if you continue to smoke or breathe dirty air. The damage doesn't stop until you stop smoking and stop breathing dirty air. By quitting smoking now, you can't undo the damage that's already done, but you can protect your lungs from any more damage.
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