Who are most affected by emphysema?
Tobacco smoking is the main cause of emphysema. Marijuana smoking can also lead to emphysema. Other major causes include air pollution or long-term exposure to environmental hazards at work.
Rarely, genetics can play a role in early-onset emphysema. The best way to prevent this disease is to stop smoking and if you are a smoker, you should quit.
Emphysema is a chronic lung disease in which the air sacs (bubbles) in the lung expand excessively and as a result, the elasticity of the fibers that open and close the air sacs during breathing is lost.
Emphysema is a long-term or chronic lung disease that is associated with shortness of breath, chronic cough, abundant sputum, and a progressive decrease in lung function.
In emphysema, the small air sacs in the lungs, called alveoli, temporarily enlarge due to destruction of the walls between the small alveoli. In the opposite image, circular air sacs are seen in healthy lung tissue, which are absent in emphysema.
Destruction of the walls of the alveoli causes a failure in the transfer of oxygen into the blood and the release of carbon dioxide from it.
Destruction of the walls of the alveoli with its elastic fibers causes the lungs to harden and reduce their flexibility and causes difficulty in breathing.
The decrease in flexibility causes collapse of the airways (bronchioles) and as a result, air cannot leave the lungs properly and tends to be trapped inside the lungs.
Less expansion of the lung during the next breath reduces the amount of inhaled air, resulting in less air entering the lungs for gas exchange.
80 to 90 percent of cases of pulmonary emphysema are due to the use of tobacco such as cigarettes
symptoms
There are usually no symptoms in the early stages.
Shortness of breath, the intensity of which gradually increases over the years.
Recurrent infections in the lungs or bronchial tubes
– Enlargement of the chest and its resemblance to a barrel
reasons
Doctors know that 80 to 90 percent of cases of pulmonary emphysema are due to the use of tobacco such as cigarettes. The chemicals in tobacco smoke attack the lung tissue and damage the air sacs.
Also, these inflammatory chemicals cause inflammation of the airways and cause other diseases such as long-term (chronic) bronchitis, which is often seen in patients with advanced emphysema.
Other causes include:
– air pollution
– Inflammation of the air sacs in the lungs
risk factors
Jobs that require special and forced breathing, such as glass-making or playing a wind instrument.
– The occurrence of frequent respiratory infections that reduce the function of lung tissue.
– Allergy or family history of allergy
– History of asthma or bronchitis
prevention
– Do not smoke.
– Avoid being in places where there is a lot of air pollution.
– Exercise moderately and in fresh air.
– Prevent the occurrence of influenza and pneumonia by taking the relevant vaccines.
Avoid contact with patients who have a respiratory infection.
– In case of lung infection, see a doctor. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
Emphysema cannot be cured, but the progression and severity of the disease can be delayed by controlling the symptoms.
Complications
Emphysema is a serious disease and can be life-threatening. Although it is a disease in which the changes in the lungs are not reversible, its symptoms and progress can often be reduced by lifestyle changes and appropriate use of medications.
Emphysema causes difficulty and inadequate breathing. In addition, due to the reduction of gas exchange capacity with each breath, it is necessary to take more breaths. Due to discomfort and insufficient capacity caused by this problem, the patient’s quality of life is affected.
Other complications include:
– Being prone to lung infections
– Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
– Respiratory failure or lung collapse
– Congestive heart failure
diagnosis
Diagnostic procedures may include blood tests and other laboratory tests, X-rays, and lung function tests.
treatment
This disease cannot be cured, but the progress and severity of the disease can be delayed by controlling the symptoms. Although emphysema reduces life expectancy, many people live with it for many years. Without treatment, the complications of the disease may be fatal.
The treatment aims to reduce symptoms, slow down the progress of the disease and prevent complications, therefore:
– Do not smoke. The most important treatment is to stop smoking. Smoking causes the disease to progress, even if treatment is given.
– Avoid inhaling respiratory pollutants.
– If you work in a place where there is a lot of air pollution, try to avoid exposure to pollution with different measures. If necessary, change your job.
– Stay at home when warning about air pollution.
– Install a filtered air conditioning system with humidity control in your home.
Any allergies associated with emphysema should be treated to prevent worsening of emphysema.
– Avoid exposure to sudden changes in temperature or humidity, loud talking, laughing, crying, or activity while having this severe physical illness if they trigger coughing attacks.
– Avoid going to heights where the air is thin.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. This will dilute the lung secretions and make them easier to cough out.
– Brush and floss your teeth regularly to reduce the chance of infection in the mouth.
– Raise the end of your bed about 10 to 12 cm. This helps to prevent mucous secretions from accumulating in the lower parts of the lungs.
– Stay away from people who are coughing or have a cold.
– Rarely, lung transplantation may be considered.
Necessary drugs are also prescribed by a specialist, such as bronchodilator drugs that open the airways by relaxing the narrower air passages (called bronchioles) and cause the lungs to fill and empty more easily.
– Activity will be limited when you get this disease, but to the extent that your strength allows you to maintain your activity when you get this disease. Lack of activity while suffering from this disease for a long time will cause more disability.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. This will dilute the lung secretions and make them easier to expel by coughing.
Under what circumstances should you see a doctor?
If any of the following occur after a doctor diagnoses emphysema:
Fever
Presence of blood in sputum
– Increased shortness of breath, or shortness of breath without coughing or while resting
Chest pain
Increasing, thickening or changing the color of sputum, despite treatment