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Respiratory disorders can occur in human beings due to several reasons. Respiratory disorders should be treated, in the early stages, to avoid long-term respiratory problems. Many organs form the respiratory tract like nostrils, bronchi, lungs, larynx, pharynx, etc. Among all the respiratory diseases, emphysema is a serious COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Read on to know about emphysema definition and symptoms.
Overview of emphysema
When breathing is normal, our lungs consume oxygen from the environmental air and discharge carbon dioxide. Our pair of lungs consist of a wide network of around 300 million alveoli responsible for the exchange of gases. The actual interchange of gases during respiration takes place in the alveolar sacs. The network of alveoli in the lungs are present in clusters known as alveolar sacs. In emphysema, the alveolar sacs swell up or are deformed.
When the alveolar sacs are deformed in emphysema, the patient experiences hassles in the respiration process. Bronchioles and alveolar sacs lose their elastic properties in emphysema and swell up. Due to swelling of alveolar sacs, the lungs start losing their capability of air exchange. The elasticity of alveolar sacs is essential for the exchange of gases. Besides a decrease in air exchange, lungs also swell up in emphysema. In emphysema, not only does the bronchioles inflate, but the diaphragm also compresses. Different respiratory organs compress each other in emphysema and the respiration process is hindered.
What causes emphysema?
Smoking tobacco over many years/decades can cause emphysema in human beings. Tobacco particles bind themselves to alveolar sacs or bronchioles and deplete their functioning. Diseases that are caused due to bacterial infections can also disrupt the functioning of bronchioles and alveolar sacs thus, causing emphysema.
Other respiratory disorders like asbestosis can also cause emphysema if overlooked for a longer period. Many other ecological agents are found to trigger emphysema in patients. Many COPDs can also boost the seriousness of emphysema in human beings. Emphysema classification is also done based on its effects and causes. Some of the morphologic subtypes of emphysema are centrilobular, panlobular, paraseptal, paracicatricial, and localised emphysema.
What are the symptoms of emphysema?
There are several symptoms of emphysema based on its seriousness. If you are showing signs of emphysema, you should quickly contact a doctor. Breathlessness is the major symptom of emphysema. Emphysema patients usually take short breaths and experience hassles in simple tasks like walking and climbing stairs. Emphysema patients also become weary with time as weight loss is also a symptom of the disorder
Since the lungs cannot function properly in emphysema, it loses the ability to breathe in and out air. Also, a wheezing sound is followed after respiration in emphysema patients. Coughing is also a symptom observed in emphysema patients. Stained phlegm is also observed in emphysema patients that denotes its seriousness. The lungs cannot breathe out air properly in emphysema as they swell up. Due to the same reason, the chest of emphysema patients may gain a round shape. When emphysema gets critical, the rib cage of the patient appears larger than normal. The rib cage gains a rounded shape and this situation is often termed ‘barrel chest’.
If you are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms of emphysema, seek medical advice immediately. Overlooking emphysema for a longer time will make your situation worse. If you treat emphysema in the early stages, you have a greater chance of recovering. If you are diagnosed with emphysema, avoid smoking and exposure to pollutants and irritants.
How emphysema is treated?
Doctors use relief inhales, oral drugs, and aerosol sprays to treat emphysema. Many drugs can provide relief from coughing and reduce the inflammation in the lungs. For some emphysema patients that are in critical condition, a lung transplant is the only choice left. Do you know that some transgenic organisms are used for the treatment of emphysema?
Genetically modified animals can give more nutritious products that can be used to treat several diseases. For example, a genetically modified cow offers milk with more quantity of human protein. A part of DNA is introduced in animals to make them genetically modified. Transgenic animals that produce proteins like α-1-antitrypsin are helpful in the treatment of emphysema. If you contact a doctor in the early stages of emphysema, you have a greater chance of defeating it.
