What are the symptoms of emphysema

Emphysema, or pulmonary emphysema, indicates a lower respiratory tract disease, that is generally characterised by the presence of some air-filled spaces (known as pneumatosis) in the lung, they vary greatly in size and may also be very large. These spaces are the result of the breakdown of the walls of the alveoli and they function to replace the spongy lung parenchyma. This helps to reduce the total alveolar surface which is available for gaseous exchange resulting in a reduction in oxygen supply in the blood. Emphysema mainly affects the middle aged or even older population since it takes time to develop along with the effects of smoking, and few other risk factors. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency generally indicates a genetic risk factor that results in the condition presented earlier. Whereas, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (or COPD) represents a type of progressive lung disease that can be prevented and treated. COPD is identified via long-term respiratory symptoms and furthermore airflow limitation. The major symptoms include shortness of breath and a cough, which may or may not produce mucus. COPD gets worsens progressively with day to day activities like that of walking or dressing becomes difficult.

Emphysema

Emphysema is one of the diseases that makes up the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It represents a set of diseases in which the flow of air to the lungs is restricted. Emphysema is mainly caused by smoking but it may also be caused by other diseases or it may also have no known cause at all.

 When the smaller air sacs (commonly known as the alveoli) situated at the ends of the airways in the lungs begin to break down from many such smaller sacs to form a much bigger sac. 

The alveoli generally represents the areas of the lung where oxygen and carbon dioxide gets exchanged into and out of the blood. Emphysema makes it harder for the people to blow air out of the lungs as the air was trapped inside the broken alveoli because of the collapse in the walls of the lung. The trapped air in the lungs forms the characteristic “barrel chest” of emphysema.

Stages of Emphysema

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease has provided a set of the stages of COPD. Basically, these stages are dependent upon the combination of airflow limitation, symptoms, and exacerbations. A doctor mainly uses a breathing test method in order to measure lung capacity. The test helps in measuring the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). Based on FEV1, the stages can be as follows:

• Very mild, or stage 1: in which FEV1 is about 80% of normal.

• Moderate, or stage 2: it can be 50–80% of normal FEV1.

• Severe, or stage 3: FEV1 is 30–50% of normal.

• Very severe, or stage 4: FEV1 is less than 30% of normal.

These stages help in describing the condition, but they do not predict how long a person is believed to survive. Doctors could also carry out other tests to learn more on how serious a person’s condition is.

Orbital Emphysema

Orbital emphysema is mainly a benign condition that is seen to occur following forceful injection of air inside the orbital soft tissue spaces. In the majority of cases there is a history of trauma and fracture of an orbital bone, this allows air to enter. Other mechanisms of orbital emphysema have also been reported involving the infection, pulmonary barotrauma, injury from compressed-air hoses, and complications that result from surgery, mainly the dental procedures. It is mainly resulted from forceful sneezing, nose blowing, or coughing among patients that possess a history of periorbital trauma or orbital fractures that have happened several hours-days in advance.

Symptoms of Emphysema

The alveoli are generally small distal airways; these are mainly affected by the disease, followed by various effects in the larger airways. Elastic recoils are mainly responsible for allowing the bronchioles to get wide open. Although, in emphysema, the bronchioles lose their stabilizing ability and therefore results in the collapse of the airways thus leading in gas to get trapped distally.

An erosion is seen in the alveolar septa leading to an enlargement of the available air space in the alveoli. Sometimes it results in the formation of a bullae with their thin walls of diminished lung tissue.

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly also known as COPD, refers to a group of progressive lung disease. There are two very common types of COPD diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Many people suffering with COPD possess both of these conditions.

Emphysema destroys the air sacs gradually in a person’s lungs, usually this interferes with outward air flow. Bronchitis leads to inflammation and further narrowing of the bronchial tubes, which allows the mucus to build up. It is estimated that around 30 million people in the United States suffer from COPD. In which half of them are unaware of the fact that they have it. Untreated, COPD may result in a faster progression of disease such as heart problems, and worsening of respiratory infections.

Symptoms of COPD

COPD suffering patients feel it harder to breathe. Symptoms can be mild at first, beginning with an intermittent coughing and shortness of breath. Gradually the symptoms become more constant when it becomes even more difficult to breathe. A person may experience wheezing and tightness in the chest or also have excess sputum production. Others with COPD have acute exacerbations that are the result of severe symptoms.

Early symptoms include:

• The symptoms start with shortness of breath, mainly after exercise.

• Mild but continuous cough.

• The person feels the urge to clean the throat very often, particularly in the morning.

Worsening Symptoms

• Shortness of breath, even after any mild forms of exercise such as walking up a flight of stairs.

• Wheezing, it is a type of higher-pitched noisy breathing that can be heard mainly during exhalations.

• Chest tightness

• Chronic cough, with or without mucus.

• Frequent colds, flu, or any other respiratory infections.

• Lack of energy

Conclusion

The undergoing inflammation and oxidative stress leads to damage in the airspace structure and disturbs the normal maintenance of alveolar structure. However, recent studies suggest the additional role of apoptosis in emphysema. Identification of the cellular and molecular mechanisms includes the development of emphysema; it may possess important implications in the development of new targets for therapeutic intervention. Here, we come to an end of this topic. We hope that you were able to get a clear concept of the topic emphysema, its symptoms and COPD.