EMPHYSEMA

Emphysema Is A Common Disease

Affects 2 out of 1,000 people

1.8 million Americans in the United States have

emphysema.

Emphysema is ranked 15th among chronic

conditions or diseases which limit people’s daily

activity

More common in men vs. women

Studies show that the amount of women with the disease is gradually increasing

44% of people with emphysema have reported that their daily activities have been greatly limited due to the disease

Emphysema is a lung disease that is classified as a COPD. (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

There are several things that cause emphysema

It can be inherited

Prolonged exposure to environmental toxins

and...........

The #1 cause is cigarette smoking

82% of cases are related to smoking

Pathophysiology of Emphysema Continued exposure to

noxious substances, such as cigarette smoke, causes destruction of the walls of the alveoli

The alveolar membrane

surface area decreases, thus

lessening the area available

for gas exchange

Progressive loss of the respiratory membrane results in an increased ratio of air to lung tissue

Diffusion defects start to occur

The number of pulmonary capillaries in the lung

is decreased and that increases the resistance

to pulmonary blood flow

Pulmonary hypertension then occurs

Right heart failure may

occur

Cor pulmonale

(hypertrophy of the right

ventricle)

DEATH

Causes weakening of the walls of the small bronchioles and alveoli.

When the walls are destroyed, the

lungs loose their capacity to recoil

and air becomes trapped in the

lungs

Residual volume increases

Vital capacity remains about

normal

The destroyed lung tissue (called

blebbs) results in alveolar collapse

To counteract alveolar collapse, patients tend to breath through pursed lips.

This creates a continued

positive pressure and

prevents alveolar collapse

PaO2 further decreases, which may lead to increased red blood cell production and polycythemia (an excess of red blood cells)

PaCO2 also increases and becomes chronically elevated

The body then depends on the hypoxic drive to control

respirations

Emphysema is characterized by irreversible airway

obstruction

Signs And Symptoms

Shortness of breath

Wheezing

Chronic mucus production (chronic bronchitis)

Constant coughing or need to clear the throat

Most Common Health Complications

Respiratory tract infections

Pneumonia

Respiratory failure

Death

Physical Changes

The most common physical change may be in the chest, which takes on a barrel-like appearance

Bluish discoloration of the

lips and nail beds

Swelling and increased fluid

in the lungs

Treatment

Bronchodilators

Oxygen

Lung Transplant (very

few patients qualify)

Prevention

Live away from polluted urban areas

#1 prevention is to STOP SMOKING