Emphysema is a lung disease that reduces the ability to expel air. Which damages the tiny airways in the lungs called bronchioles.

Bronchioles are joined to the alveoli, little grape like clusters of sacs in the lungs where oxygen from the air is exchanged for carbon dioxide from the body.

How Emphysema is Diagnosed

Some healthcare providers will carefully look at a persons background history.

Does the patient smoke or have any exposure to and second hand smoking or any other toxic fumes?

How long has the shortness of breath been present.

What makes it worse or better?

Causes

Cigarette smoking is the major cause of Emphysema

The lungs are damaged because of reactions to irritants entering the airways and alveoli.

When exposed to cigarette smoke the air sacs of the lungs produce defensive cells called Macrophages which eat the inhaled particles.

Causes Continued…

Macrophages release materials which can destroy proteins that expand the lungs and contract called elastin.

Cigarette smoking damages the Cilia which are tiny hair like projections in bronchi that sweep foreign bodies and bacteria out of the lungs.

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AAT)

Inherited disorder that can cause lung disease in adults and liver disease in both adults and children.

Protein that protects the lungs Due to gene problems some people

have little or none of it and that can cause emphysema or liver problems such as Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer.

Smoking is the greatest risk factor for emphysema.

Others include…- Age (Most likely to occur in the

ages from50-60)-Second hand smoke-Heredity (inherited deficiency of the protein alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAt) -Exposure to chemical fumes

(chemicals or dust from grain, cotton, wood or mining products)

1. Normal Air Sacs (Alveoli)

2. Alveoli Affected by Emphysema

There is no cure for emphysema. The goal of treatment is to slow down

the development of disabling systems . People with inherited emphysema due

to Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can receive alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (A1PI), which slows lung tissue destruction.

Side effects of this treatment are rare and, if they do occur, are mild. They include fever, light-headedness dizziness, and flu-like symptoms.

The long-term effects of this therapy are not known. A1PI is not recommended for those who develop emphysema as a result of cigarette smoking.

.

Physical Examinations

Based on complaints of a patient a physical examination will be performed.

Physical examinations will be apart of examining info about lungs and about the circulatory system.

DO NOT SMOKE!! Stay away from

second hand smoke If you are a smoker,

try to quit. Exercise Watch what you eat

Just the facts

Nearly 2 million Americans have emphysema.

Most people with emphysema are with older mean, however it is also increasing among women.

It comes gradually after years exposure to cigarettes.

Rates higher for men age 65+

Just the facts

Studies show that more people in the Midwest have emphysema than in any other region in the country.

It can be slowed but not stopped.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/emphysema/DS00296/DSECTION=4

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alpha1antitrypsindeficiency.html

http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/Emphysema/EMP_causes.html

http://in.truveo.com/Human-Atlas-Emphysema/id/1459776665