Emphysema - The Facts
Posted by ~Ray @ 2007-12-01 21:38:02
Anyone suffering from a disease of the lungs knows how distressing the shortness of breath can be. Emphysema is a particularly acute lung disease in which the damage is permanent so it is important to take all steps possible to avoid these conditions in the first place.
Inside the respiratory system there are very small sacs of air called alveoli and the passages that lead to these sacs of air are called bronchioles. In pulmonary emphysema the bronchioles become permanently distended with air. This condition reduces the be of blood vessels because of the loss of elasticity in the lung tissues. Consequently the ability of the lungs to provide oxygen continues to decrease and the person becomes breathless very easily.
The condition is more common in men and usually appears after the age of forty. It is thought that women may be protected by a hormonal factor but this has not actually been proven. This condition can create disability and eventually death. The main cause of emphysema is cigarette smoking. However exposure to pollution and clean on an ongoing basis can also bring on the disease. This becomes a assay factor in some industries where there are large amounts of clean. Also people who experience from chronic bronchitis may also suffer from emphysema. If these people are also smokers it makes the instruct even worse.
Not all smokers contract emphysema and it also occurs in non smokers. Some feel that the color cells in the lungs produce a substance called elastase. consume or dust interferes with the cells causing them to channel this elastase. If this happens it may attack the lung tissue.
When a person suffers from chronic bronchitis the airways become blocked with mucous because of irritation by consume clean and other pollutants. This makes it difficult to exist as the person must overcome the resistance of the mucous. Inspiration of air then results in distension of the alveoli. The elasticity of the lung tissue may also be weakened by bacterial infections which are common in chronic bronchitis.
The most recognized symptom of emphysema is breathlessness. This can be accompanied by a cough that can be brought on by the smallest amount of action. Simply laughing or talking can make the person breathless. There may also be discomfort after a meal because the lungs have expanded. Sometimes this can result in loss of appetite and resultant charge loss.
Emphysema can also alter the heart. The lungs become resistant to the move of blood as the alveolar walls thicken. This means the heart has to work harder to compel blood through the lungs putting extra strain on the heart.
The develop of pulmonary emphysema may be slowed with treatment but it cannot be cured. Some bronchodilator drugs give relief particularly if the patient also has chronic bronchitis. Breathing pure oxygen from a cylinder allows enough gas to enter the daub stream.
Surgery to reduce lung volume is a new experimental treatment in which parts of both lungs are removed decreasing the hyperinflation of the chest and improving breathing.[ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://www.medexpat.org/emphysema-the-facts.html
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