Emphysema - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Symptoms and Treatment - By: Jared Wright

A huge side effect of smoking can be attributed to Emphysema, a disease where in you find it extremely difficult to exhale though you may inhale quite comfortably.

The bronchioles, which resemble grape clusters, are small air sacs in the lungs. As the bronchioles incur more and more damage, they are destroyed. This effectively decreases the number of air sacs, thus inhibiting oxygen from entering the blood stream. Normally round, their inner walls become holes making it difficult to expel air from the lungs. In addition, elastic fibers that work to hold the air passages to the bronchioles open are also severely damaged, causing the airways to collapse on exhalation. Air is unable to escape.

Obstructed airway is a factor of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that plays a role in emphysema. Although there is treatment available, the disease is irreversible and progresses to an end stage condition.

What kind of symptoms are visible?

Shortness of breath on exertion, Wheezing Tightness in the chest, Inability to engage in physical activity, Persistent cough, Weight loss Low or no appetite and Tires easily are common symptoms.

These symptoms are not exclusive to emphysema, but they are an indication that the lungs are not working sufficiently. You should see your physician as soon as possible to determine what is causing the symptoms. The most common cause is smoking. Another known cause of emphysema is an inherited protein deficiency, or AAt. AAt is what gives protection the elastic tissues of the lungs.

Testing:

Your doctor may ask for special examinations or testing which include:

Spirometry Arterial Blood Gas (ABG), Chest x-ray and Sputum analysis CT scan.

Depending on the test reports, the doctor will suggest a suitable treatment. So if you are addicted to smoking, it's high time you give up.

Treatment or cure:

There are various kinds of treatments available that range from inhaled corticosteroids to bronchodilators. In case you have GERD, you need to be provided treatment so that the disease does not aggravate. If you have low levels of blood oxygen, your physician may recommend supplemental supply of oxygen to help you breath in a better way and thereby increase the levels of blood oxygen.

Pulmonary rehabilitation programs provide education, exercise and behavioral techniques that are beneficial to patients diagnosed with emphysema. You will have nutritional guidance, help with quitting smoking, and breathing exercises to help save your energy.

Medications, such as antibiotics are prescribed if there is an underlying bacterial infection, in addition to recommendations to get flu (yearly) and pneumonia (every 5 years) shots to aid in preventing complications.

Other treatment options involve surgical intervention to remove damaged portions of the lung, and lung transplantation for severe cases that do not respond to other treatments.

Emphysema is usually considered as a chronic disease that requires ongoing treatment and that will surely last for the rest of life. You must see the doctor at the earliest in case you experience any kind of symptom.

About the Author

Jared Wright, the webmaster of Clivir.com - the free learning community site finds extreme pleasure in sharing with us his indepth knowlede on natural cure for asthma and symptoms of asthma.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Jared-Wright/72660

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