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The main aim of therapy for emphysema is to provide relief against its symptoms, prevent complications and slow down the progression of the disease. Quitting smoking is also very necessary for patients suffering with emphysema, since continuous use of tobacco will only further damage the lungs. Since emphysema gets worsen with time and there is no known cure, treatment mainly focuses on slowing the speed of decline. The type of treatment will be based on the severity of the disease.
Treatment of Emphysema
Quitting smoking: a person suffering from emphysema should quit smoking. This is the most crucial step a person can take in order to protect their lungs. It is never too late to quit.
Bronchodilator medications: These medicines function to relax the muscles present around the airways. They are mainly used to treat asthma. Bronchodilators are given through hand-held inhalants, this system functions to produce more immediate results and possess fewer side effects as compared to oral medications. Bronchodilators possess two different forms:
Anticholinergics- these stop the muscles around the airways from getting tight. They also help make it easier to clear mucus from the lungs.
Beta-agonists- relaxes muscles around the airways.
Anti-inflammatory medication: These types of medications reduce inflammation present in the airways. However, long-term side effects of these drugs include osteoporosis, hypertension, high blood sugar, and fat redistribution.
Oxygen therapy: Oxygen therapy is usually prescribed for patients whose lungs are not able to receive enough oxygen to the blood (leading to hypoxemia). Such patients are unable to absorb enough oxygen from the outside air and are required to get more oxygen via a machine (such as a nasal catheter or a facemask). Few people take supplemental oxygen which is present in three form:
Oxygen concentrator: these devices help remove other gases from the air and provide the patient with pure oxygen. (Air normally comprises about 21% oxygen.)
Liquid system: it is super cooled, pure oxygen that can be stored in a canister and it looks like a thermos.
Oxygen cylinders: These comprise around 100% oxygen, which is stored under high pressure in large or small tank-like containers.
Lung volume reduction surgery: Lung volume reduction surgery includes removing a region of diseased lung tissue, then combining together the remaining tissue. This process may help relieve pressure on the breathing muscles and thereby, help improve lung elasticity(or stretching ability). The results of this surgery have proved very promising. Not all patients with emphysema are suitable for this surgery.
Protein Therapy
Majority of people have an inherited form of emphysema that is caused mainly due to a lack of the protein alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT). Infusions of AAT may also help slow down lung damage.
Respiratory rehabilitation programs:
A person suffering from emphysema is eligible to take part in a respiratory rehabilitation program, usually known as ‘pulmonary rehab’. These programs:
Provides awareness and education on emphysema.
This helps in introducing a supervised exercise program to people that has proven to improve emphysema symptoms.
Help people improve lung function via specific breathing exercises.
Teach them stress management techniques.
They are provided with advice on adapting to life with emphysema.
Provide emotional support through various shared experiences.
Vaccines
The flu vaccine generally does not treat emphysema directly, but doctors advise everyone to get one shot every year. They also recommend that we get a pneumonia shot every 5 to 7 years to prevent infection. If anyone suffers from emphysema, then they have higher chances of getting serious problems from flu and pneumonia.
How serious is mild emphysema?
Stage 1 emphysema is also known as the mild emphysema. But this does not mean that the disease is mild. The person can possess significant lung damage before one even notices the breathing problems of stage 1, certainly if the patient is relatively young and otherwise healthy. Whereas, if the patient is older, particularly of 65years of age, then also minor breathing problems begin to interfere with basic day to day lifestyles such as dressing, cooking, or climbing stairs, and they are more likely to cause any symptoms or the person will be sent to the hospital.
Once the doctor gets diagnosed with emphysema and determines the person’s GOLD stage, in this test the scientist looks at a number of other signs and symptoms in order to fully evaluate the person’s condition.
Conclusion
Emphysema cannot be cured easily but according to which are a number of treatments that relieve symptoms by making it easier for you to breathe. They may also helps in preventing other problems and keep the disease from getting worse. With this we come to any end of the topic. We hope that you were able to get a clear concept of the topic treatment of emphysema.
