Emphysema symptoms

What is pulmonary emphysema? Emphysema is a chronic lung condition in which the air sacs (alveoli) may be: • Collapsed • Destroyed • Narrowed • Overinflated • Stretched Overinflation of the air sacs is a result of a breakdown of the alveoli walls. It causes a decrease in respiratory function and breathlessness. Damage to the air sacs can't be fixed. It causes permanent holes in the lower lung tissue. Pulmonary emphysema is part of a group of lung diseases called COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). COPD lung diseases cause airflow blockage and breathing problems. The 2 most common conditions of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. What causes pulmonary emphysema? Pulmonary emphysema occurs very slowly over time. It’s caused by: • Smoking (the main cause) • Exposure to air pollution, such as chemical fumes, dust, and other substances • Irritating fumes and dusts at work • A rare, inherited form of the disease called alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency-related pulmonary emphysema or early onset pulmonary emphysema What are the symptoms of pulmonary emphysema? Symptoms may be slightly different for each person. The following are the most common symptoms for pulmonary emphysema. Early symptoms of pulmonary emphysema may include: • Cough • Rapid breathing • Shortness of breath, which gets worse with activity • Sputum production • Wheezing Other symptoms may include: • Anxiety • Depression • Extreme tiredness (fatigue) • Heart problems • Over-inflation of the lun...

Cigarette smoking is the primary cause of emphysema. The goal for the treatment of emphysema is to prevent further lung damage and to maximize the function of the remaining healthy lung tissue. Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the Emphysema is included in a group of diseases called a Emphysema changes the anatomy of the lung in part due to the destruction of lung tissue around smaller airways. This tissue normally holds these small airways, called Normal lung tissue looks like a new sponge. Emphysematous lung, however,looks like an old used sponge, with large holes and a dramatic loss of elasticity. When the lung is stretched during inflation (inhalation), the nature of the stretched tissue wants to relax to its resting state. In emphysema, this elastic function is impaired, resulting in air trapping in the lungs. Emphysema destroys this spongy tissue of the lung and also severely affects the small blood vessels (capillaries of the lung) and airways that run throughout the lung. Thus, bothairflow andblood flow are affected. This has a dramatic impact on the ability of the lung not only to empty its air sacs called alveoli (pleural for alveolus) but also for blood to flow through the lungs to receive oxygen. What Causes Emphysema? The importance of Cigarette • Destruction of lung tissue occurs in several ways. First, cigarette smoke directly affects the cells in the airway responsible for clearing mucus and other secretions. Occasional smoking temporarily di...

Emphysema can cause chest tightness, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that’s caused by damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. This damage makes it hard for the lungs to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide, which can lead to shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. Early detection and lifestyle changes are key to a positive outcome. Here’s what to look for in the early stages. Early signs of emphysema In the very early stages of • shortness of breath during physical activity • mild cough, especially in the morning • mild wheezing • mild fatigue • mild chest tightness • mild weight loss What are the most predictable symptoms of emphysema? The most predictable symptoms of emphysema are chronic coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing. These symptoms are caused by damage to the air sacs in the lungs, which makes it hard for the lungs to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide efficiently. What does emphysema feel like? Many people describe emphysema as feeling like they can’t catch their breath or as if they’re suffocating. Here are some steps you can take: • Schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or a pulmonologist (lung specialist): Be prepared to discuss your medical history, including any history of smoking, as well as your symptoms. • Quit smoking: If you smoke, • Follow a healthy diet: Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and good fats can help reduce • Manage str...

Gastric emphysema (GE) is a rare, but serious condition that affects the stomach. Compared with other types of emphysema that affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, it’s estimated that Rather than being a disease itself, Read on to learn more about what GE entails, including possible causes, symptoms, and treatment options that you can discuss with a doctor. GE may be asymptomatic, meaning it has no symptoms. In such cases, it may be found incidentally during diagnostic testing for another health condition. When GE does cause symptoms, it may include • nausea • upper abdominal pain • vomiting • blood in vomit (occasionally) Such symptoms may be related to a number of GI conditions. So, if you experience Self-diagnosis may be dangerous, especially since GE can sometimes be confused with a more serious, and potentially fatal condition called It’s also important to note that vomiting, while a symptom of GE, has also been found to be a cause of GE when it’s especially severe and prolonged. One such While the exact cause of GE is widely debated, Possible related causes of GE • cancer and related treatments, such as chemotherapy drugs • high doses of steroid treatments • damage to gastric mucosa from certain surgeries, such as bile duct stenting • frequent and severe vomiting, which may also damage stomach mucosa • alcohol misuse For example, Treatment of GE is highly individual. Some cases require extensive therapies, while others GE Other treatments may depend on the underlyi...