|
Emphysema is an
irreversible lung disease that affects
approximately three million Americans. Emphysema
destroys lung tissue, hindering the transport of
oxygen between the lungs and the blood. The
impairment of respiratory function by emphysema
causes breathing difficulties (dyspnea), and can
lead to serious secondary health complications,
including heart
failure.
How Emphysema Affects the
Respiratory System
Emphysema
destroys the alveoli: tiny air sacs in the lungs
that are essential for lung function. As
emphysema progresses, the alveoli walls are
destroyed, and the small air sacs are replaced
by larger, less elastic holes. Expelling air
from these holes is difficult, as the damaged
airways collapse during exhalation. Trapped,
stale air accumulates in the lungs, causing the
lungs to "hyper-inflate," further reducing the
supply of fresh oxygen.
Dyspnea, and Other Symptoms
of Emphysema
Dyspnea, or
shortness of breath, is the most common symptom
of emphysema. Dyspnea may not be apparent in the
early stages of emphysema because the disease
progresses gradually. Dyspnea and other symptoms
develop after the lung tissue has already been
damaged.
Coughing is another common
emphysema symptom. The cough is not usually a
wet, mucus-producing cough. Wet coughs are a
sign of bronchitis, a different type of lung
disease. Wheezing, another common bronchitis
symptom, is also absent in most cases of
emphysema.
Fatigue and weight loss are
common symptoms of emphysema. As the disease
progresses, some people develop a barrel-shaped
chest. Under normal circumstances, the chest is
narrower from front to back than it is from side
to side. Hyper-inflated lungs change the shape
of the chest, expanding the sides of the
chest.
In some patients,
a bluish tinge can be seen on the fingertips,
lips, skin, and tongue. This bluish tinge,
called cyanosis, indicates low levels of oxygen
in the blood, and requires immediate medical
treatment. Emphysema patients may experience
anxiety due to low oxygen levels and dyspnea.
They may also experience swelling of the legs,
ankles, and feet as the circulatory system
becomes strained.
Emphysema Health
Complications: Heart Disease and
Pneumonia
As lung function
deteriorates, other health complications may
develop. Respiratory disease and lung infections
occur with greater frequency. Other possible
health complications include:
Wet Cough:
Emphysema usually presents with a dry
cough. A wet, mucus-producing cough may indicate
pneumonia or a lung infection.
Heart Complications:
Blood flow through the lungs is
negatively affected by emphysema and places the
heart under increased strain. In time, heart
failure may develop.
Lung Cancer:
While lung cancer is not an actual health
complication of emphysema, most emphysema
sufferers are smokers, which increases their
risk of lung cancer.
Emphysema and Related
Respiratory Disorders
Emphysema often
coexists with chronic bronchitis. When the two
types of lung disease are present, the resulting
health complications are referred to as COPD, or
chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease.
|
