Emphysema (EMP)
Emphysema (EMP): Overview
Definition:
Emphysema (EMP) is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) where damage to the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs makes it difficult to breathe. With emphysema, the air sacs become damaged, narrowed, stretched, or collapsed. This reduces the surface area of the lungs, making it harder to move oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide, ultimately leading to breathlessness. Emphysema is often caused by smoking and long-term exposure to lung irritants.
Causes:
The most common cause of emphysema is smoking, which destroys lung tissue and irritates airways. Other causes include long-term exposure to lung irritants such as air pollution, secondhand smoke, and occupational fumes. Emphysema is most commonly seen in people 40 years of age or older, especially in those who smoked early on in life, still smoke or had long-term exposure to lung irritants.
Symptoms:
Symptoms of emphysema develop slowly and may not appear for years. They include shortness of breath, frequent coughing or wheezing, a cough that produces a lot of mucus, and tightness in the chest. People with emphysema are also susceptible to frequent respiratory infections, like colds or the flu, and may experience fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep problems, depression, and unexplained weight loss. In severe cases, emphysema can cause weight loss, weakness in your lower muscles, and swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs. A barrel-shaped chest and cyanosis may also occur.
Diagnosis and Treatment:
Emphysema can be diagnosed through a medical history, lung function tests, imaging (chest X-ray or CT scan), and blood tests. While there is no cure for emphysema, treatment focuses on managing symptoms and preventing complications. This includes quitting smoking, taking medications to open airways, and pulmonary rehabilitation.
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References
- Better Health Channel. Emphysema. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/emphysema
- Health Partners. Emphysema causes, symptoms and treatments. https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/emphysema-causes-symptoms-and-treatment/
- Cleveland Clinic. Emphysema: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9370-emphysema
- Medical News Today. Emphysema: Symptoms, stages, causes, treatments, and outlook. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/8934
- Healthline. Emphysema: What Is It, Symptoms, Causes, and More. https://www.healthline.com/health/emphysema
- MedlinePlus. Emphysema. https://medlineplus.gov/emphysema.html
- WebMD. Signs and Symptoms of Emphysema. https://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/emphysema-symptoms
