Discussion Emphysema

EmphysemaisthediseaseIchose;thisdiseaseaffectsthe

respiratorysystem.Inpeoplewithemphysema,theairsacsintheir

lungs(alveoli)aredamaged.Overtime,theinnerwallsoftheairsacs

weakenandrupturecreatinglargerairspacesinsteadofmanysmall

ones.Thisreducesthesurfaceareaofthelungsand,inturn,the

amountofoxygenthatreachesyourbloodstream.Thisdeviatesfrom

thestandardofhealthbycausingdifficultybreathing,Ongoing

fatigue.Mostpatientswithsevereemphysemaenduponoxygenfor

therestoftheirlife.

Therearethreetypesofemphysema;centriacinar,panacinar,

paraseptal.Centriacinaremphysemaaffectsthelungsandairwaysin

thecentralacinus,destroyingthelungsinthewallsoftherespiratory

bronchiolesandalveolarducts.

Whatarethesymptomsofemphysema?

Shortnessofbreath,especiallyduringlightexercise.Emphysema

symptomsaretypicallymildatfirstandincludeBreathingproblems,

Coughing,persistentcough.Ongoingfeelingofnotbeingabletoget

enoughair.Long-termcoughorwheezing.Long-termmucus

production.

Howdoyoudetectemphysema,ChestX-RayChestX-rayscanhelp

confirmadiagnosisofemphysemaandruleoutotherlung

conditions?ArterialBloodGasesAnalysisThesebloodtestsmeasure

howwellyourlungstransferoxygentoyourbloodstreamand

removecarbondioxide.

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https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9370-emphysema