Emphysema
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Causes
Symptoms

Emphysema (pronounced EM-fa-zema) is a degenerative lung disease that develops after many years of lung tissue exposure to cigarette smoke or other toxins that pollute the air.

When you inhale, oxygen travels down your airway, into your lungs, and into tiny air sacs in the lungs called alveoli. The alveoli push the oxygen to the heart so that it can be distributed throughout the body, and it pushes out carbon dioxide so that it can be exhaled.

In a person suffering from emphysema, the alveoli become damaged and lose their elasticity. The air sacs are no longer able to completely deflate and push all of the oxygen and carbon dioxide out. Instead, the oxygen and carbon dioxide remain in the alveoli, and new, fresh oxygen can’t be drawn in. This makes the sufferer feel as if his or her lungs are continually full of air. Exhaling becomes very difficult, and because the heart and the rest of the body are unable to get the necessary oxygen, the person feels fatigued.

Emphysema is one of a group of lung diseases, referred to as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which interferes with normal breathing. Emphysema sometimes occurs in conjunction with chronic bronchitis, another COPD. The difference between the diseases is that emphysema is the result of damaged alveoli, and chronic bronchitis is an inflammatory condition. The diseases share common symptoms and treatment goals. Even though emphysema can not be cured, treatment can help to ease symptoms and improve quality of life.

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Causes

As each of us grows older, the air sacs, or alveoli, in our lungs grow weaker. This degeneration is emphysema, and age leads to it, but smokers destroy their alveoli at a more rapid rate. That makes smokers at greatest risk for developing the disease at a much younger age. Smoking is the number one cause of emphysema.

Other pollutants — besides cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoke — can also damage the lungs and cause emphysema. For example, if you work around polluted air or with chemical fumes, your chances of developing emphysema increase dramatically.

Emphysema may also be inherited. A protein called Alpha-1 antitrypsin exists in most people, and it protects the lungs from damage by pollutants. Occasionally, a person may not have inherited this protein from his parents. If a person is missing this protein, the deficiency will cause the person to be much more vulnerable to the disease.

Others who may have a greater chance of developing emphysema include:

  • Those who have been exposed to secondhand smoke
  • Those who have been exposed to indoor and outdoor pollution
  • Those infected with HIV
  • Those suffering from connective tissue disorders

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Symptoms

If you are suffering from emphysema, you will notice that you have a chronic cough, which may or may not produce sputum or mucus. You will also notice that you will be short of breath, and this will grow increasingly worse over time. Other symptoms include:

  • Swelling of hands and feet
  • Wheezing
  • Decreased ability to exercise
  • Physically thin appearance
  • Barrel-shaped chest
  • Anxiety
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Fatigue

If you experience any of the above symptoms, see your health care professional immediately for an accurate diagnosis and treatment to relieve your symptoms.

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