Emphysema falls under the umbrella of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and this lung condition can severely impact a person’s ability to breathe. As a chronic condition, the effects of emphysema often worsen over time, and can lead to life-threatening complications. While there is no cure for this condition, understanding the basics of emphysema is key to managing the disorder effectively.
Most cases of emphysema result from long-term smoking (although inhaling other chemicals or irritants for long periods of time can also cause the condition). That means that quitting smoking now may help you avoid the condition, or it can prevent symptoms from becoming severe, which will negatively affect your health outlook.
Quitting smoking is no easy task, but certain methods can help. Talk to your doctor about cessation medications, which can help you manage cravings for cigarettes. Nicotine gums, lozenges, and patches are also beneficial, as they allow you to slowly wean yourself from nicotine over time.
Emphysema is typically treated using inhaled medications, steroids, antibiotics, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and surgery. The goal of these treatments is to mitigate symptoms and reduce how quickly they progress.
While effective, emphysema treatments cannot undo the damage that has already occurred. Additionally, symptoms may continue to worsen even with treatment depending on the severity of the condition. This highlights why it is so important to quit smoking as soon as possible, particularly if you’ve already experienced symptoms related to this lung disorder.
In some cases, emphysema increases one’s risk of developing respiratory infections, which can worsen the effects of the condition. Along with medication, people with this lung disorder are encouraged to take the following steps to reduce their risk of respiratory illness:
If you use supplemental oxygen, be sure to clean your equipment regularly according to instructions provided by your doctor or lung specialist. This equipment can harbour bacteria without the proper cleaning, which can also contribute to lung infections.