Emphysema

Emphysema is a respiratory disorder in which the alveoli get stiff walled. Windedness is a side effect of emphysema, a lung infection. The inward dividers of the air sacs(alveoli) debilitate and crack over the long haul, bringing about bigger air holes rather than numerous little ones. This restricts the amount of oxygen that arrives at your circulation system by diminishing the surface space of your lungs.

Classification of Emphysema

There are three types of emphysema: paraseptal, centrilobular and panlobular.

1. Paraseptal emphysema: Paraseptal emphysema is a type of Pulmonary emphysema. In this type of emphysema, tiny air sacs or alveoli present within the lungs are damaged and the outermost parts of the lungs filled with enlarged air spaces which leads to difficulty in breathing and other respiratory symptoms. 
2. Centrilobular emphysema: Centrilobular emphysema is a long-term obstructive pulmonary disease. It mostly occurs in senior citizens who have a history of smoking. It leads to shortness of breath, wheezing, production of a lot of extra mucus, persistent coughing, etc. 
3. Panlobular emphysema: Panlobular emphysema leads to the complete destruction of alveoli and respiratory bronchioles. It affects both the paraseptal and centrilobular areas of the lungs. 

• When you breathe out, the harmed alveoli does not work as expected, catching old air and forestalling new, oxygen-rich air from entering
• Constant bronchitis is normal in people with emphysema. Ongoing bronchitis is an aggravation of the bronchial cylinders, which pass on air to the lungs and cause an industrious hack
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be caused under two conditions: emphysema and chronic bronchitis (COPD). COPD is most commonly caused by smoking. COPD treatment can help reduce the progression of the disease, but it cannot undo the harm

Symptoms

• Emphysema can go unnoticed for years without causing any symptoms. Shortness of breath is the most common sign of emphysema, and it usually develops gradually
• You may begin to avoid activities that cause you to feel short of breath, so the symptom does not become an issue until it begins to interfere with your everyday activities. Even while you’re at rest, emphysema causes shortness of breath
• This disease can put pressure on the heart and gradually the strained heart may get weak. So heart attacks may be observed too

Causes

Airborne irritants mentioned below can cause emphysema. 

• Tobacco smoke is a harmful substance
• Smoke from marijuana
• Air pollution 
• Dust and chemical fumes
• Emphysema is occasionally caused by the hereditary lack of a protein that protects the lungs’ elastic structures. Emphysema caused by alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is known as alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency emphysema

Factors that make people at risk

The following factors raise your chances of developing emphysema:

• Smoking: Cigarette smokers are more likely to develop emphysema, although cigar and pipe users are equally at risk. The number of years and the amount of tobacco smoked raise the risk for all types of smokers
• Age: Despite the fact that emphysema causes slow lung deterioration, most patients with tobacco-related emphysema begin to notice symptoms between the ages of 40 and 60
• Secondhand smoke exposure: Smoke inhaled unknowingly from another person’s cigarette, pipe, or cigar is known as secondhand smoke, also known as passive or ambient tobacco smoke. Being exposed to secondhand smoke raises your chances of developing emphysema
• Exposure to fumes or dust during work: You are more prone to get emphysema if you inhale chemical fumes or dust
• Pollution both inside and outside the home: Breathing indoor pollutants, such as heating fuel fumes, as well as outdoor pollutants, such as car emissions, increases your risk of developing emphysema

Complications

Emphysema patients are also more likely to develop:

• Lung collapse (pneumothorax): As the function of their lungs is already weakened, a collapsed lung can be life-threatening in persons with severe emphysema. This is a rare occurrence, but when it occurs, it needs immediate medical attention

Problems with the heart during emphysema. 

• Emphysema can cause the arteries to become more constricted that connect the heart and lungs. Cor pulmonale is a condition in which a portion of the heart(right side) swells and weakens as a result of this
• People having lungs with large holes or bullae, which are empty areas in the lungs, can develop emphysema. They can grow to be the size of half a lung. Giant bullae can raise your risk of pneumothorax by limiting the amount of room available for the lung to expand

Diagnostic Techniques

Spirometer

A spirometer is a diagnostic device that measures the amount of air you are able to breathe in and out.

Tests of imaging

• A chest X-ray can help confirm an advanced emphysema diagnosis and rule out other reasons for shortness of breath. However, if you have emphysema, the chest X-ray can also show normal findings
• CT scans combine X-ray pictures from a variety of angles to create cross-sectional views of inside organs. Emphysema can be detected and diagnosed using CT scans. If you’re a candidate for lung surgery, you may also need a CT scan

Tests in the lab

The ability of your lungs to carry oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide from your bloodstream can be determined using blood drawn from an artery in your wrist.

Tests of lung function

These non-invasive tests determine how much air your lungs can retain and how well air flows in and out of them. They can also assess the efficiency with which your lungs carry oxygen to your bloodstream. One of the most common tests is blowing into a basic equipment called a spirometer.

Conclusion

We can conclude that emphysema is a lung infection which mostly affects the air sacs (alveoli) and diminishes the surface space of our lungs. It can be of three types: paraseptal, centrilobular and panlobular. Paraseptal is a type of Pulmonary emphysema and centrilobular is a long-term obstructive pulmonary emphysema. Panlobular leads to the complete destruction of alveoli and respiratory bronchioles and affects both the paraseptal and centrilobular areas of the lungs. The main symptom of emphysema is shortness of breath. Emphysema mainly occurs due to smoking, air pollution and dust present in the surrounding. This disease can severely affect our lungs. Spirometer, test of imaging, test in the lab and tests of lung function can help to diagnose emphysema.