Emphysema is a disease in which the air sacs in the lungs are slowly destroyed over a long period of time. As the air sacs, or alveoli, are destroyed, large pockets of air begin to form in the lungs where the smaller air sacs were. The air sacs in the lungs have a lot of surface area because they are responsible for passing oxygen into the bloodstream in exchange for carbon dioxide.
The air sacs in the lungs squeeze old carbon dioxide out when a person exhales. However, as those air sacs are destroyed in a person with emphysema, the ability of a person to push out carbon dioxide is reduced. This leads to old air trapped in damaged lung tissue with less space for new air. This lack of space leads to a slow expansion of the lung tissue, which weakens the lungs even more.
As the muscles that help the lungs breathe expand to accommodate the lungs, they weaken too. Most people with emphysema also live with chronic bronchitis, a condition defined by constant irritation of the bronchial tubes. The bronchial tubes carry air to and from the lungs. These two conditions both fall under Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Shortness of breath is the major symptom of emphysema. It often takes people living with emphysema a long time to notice that anything is wrong, since shortness of breath comes on slowly. At first, emphysema will only affect difficult activity, and many people may think that they are out of shape or getting older. With time, emphysema patients will be short of breath even when resting.
If you’re experiencing shortness of breath with no clear explanation, consider seeing a doctor. Other indicators that you may have emphysema include:
Emphysema is caused by exposure to irritating substances in the air over a long period of time. These can include tobacco smoke, chemical fumes, marijuana smoke, dust, and air pollution.
Risk factors for emphysema include:
A doctor will make a diagnosis of emphysema based on a medical history, a physical examination, and recommended tests. For an accurate diagnosis, a doctor will most likely ask for an X-ray or a computerised tomography (CT) scan. An X-ray can rule out other lung issues and confirm an emphysema diagnosis in most cases. A CT scan may be used if X-ray findings are not clear.
Complications of emphysema include:
In addition to medication, those living with emphysema can benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, and nutrition therapy. Pulmonary rehabilitation teaches patients how to breathe more easily while oxygen therapy allows people living with emphysema to receive oxygen around the clock, often improving quality of life. Nutrition therapy helps emphysema patients stay healthy, whether they need to gain weight or lose weight.
Some people may also consider surgery, whether it’s removal of damaged lung tissue or a complete lung transplant.