EMPHYSEMA
Emphysema is a lung disease involving
damage to the air sacs or alveoli. The lungs lose their
elasticity and become less able to expand and contract.
The alveoli cannot deflate completely so less oxygen
is taken into the lungs, leading to breathing difficulties.
Causes
Cigarette smoking is the most frequent
cause of emphysema but for the miners seeking compensation
it was the coal dust which was held to be mainly responsible
for the disease.
It is thought that coal dust causes the release of chemicals
in the lungs that damage the walls of the air sacs.
The damage to the lungs worsens over time, affecting
the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, the process
by which we breathe.
Symptoms
- Chronic
cough,
- Bluish
coloration of skin due to lack of oxygen,
- Chronic
shortage of breath,
- Wheezing,
- Other
symptoms can include; nasal flaring, bulging eyes,
dizziness, excessive sleepiness, insomnia, memory
loss, anxiety and stress, impotence, weight loss.
Treatment
Breathing can be improved by using
hand-held inhalers. Many sufferers aid their breathing
by using oxygen tanks kept at home. The thinning and
removal of lung secretions to help the exchange of oxygen
and carbon dioxide can be enhanced by physical therapy,
for example chest clapping. Experimental surgery to
remove badly damaged portions of the lungs is now being
developed.
Expectations
The prognosis is better for those
people who give up smoking, but is poor for those who
have extensive lung damage. Death can occur from respiratory
failure or heart failure.
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