What is emphysema? What causes emphysema?
Emphysema is a severe lung disease caused by the damage to the lung’s natural air spaces called, alveoli. This results in breathing problems. It is a form of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), the main cause of which is addiction to smoking. Toxins in the cigarette smoke have the potential to damage the delicate walls of the alveoli, affecting its elasticity. This would hamper the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs, making breathing very difficult. The NHS reports 25,000 deaths every year in the UK due to COPD.
What are the symptoms of emphysema?
Symptoms of emphysema develop slowly and get worse over time.
How is emphysema diagnosed?
Diagnostic procedures and tests for emphysema include,
How is emphysema treated?
The first step to treat emphysema is to quit smoking. Lung damage is irreversible. But it is possible to slow down further damage. The treatment options for emphysema include oxygen therapy, bronchodilators, corticosteroids, antibiotics, exercises to strengthen the lung walls and lung surgery. Purified human alpha-1-antitrypsin is used to treat emphysema caused by alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. Your doctor may recommend vaccinations against influenza and pneumonia to avoid respiratory infections.
It costs around $63,000 per patient for lung volume reduction surgery and six months of post-surgical treatment. Medical treatment cost comes around $13,000.
What are the preventive measures for emphysema?