Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Emphysema

Emphysema is a lung condition that causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the air sacs in the lungs (alveoli) are damaged. Over time, the inner walls of the air sacs weaken and rupture — creating larger air spaces instead of many small ones.
Emphysema can't be cured, but treatments can help relieve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
Symptoms

Difficulty breathing

  • Occurs or worsens with exertion

  • Rapidly developing

  • Recurrent

common

Rapid heart rate

common

Abnormally rapid breathing

  • Prolonged exhalation

common

Cough with mucus or without mucus

  • Dry

  • Recurrent

  • Lasting 4 weeks or more

  • Production of clear-white mucus, Production of yellowish-gray mucus

  • Occurs or worsens with exertion, Occurs or is worse in the morning

common

Bloated chest

Pink skin all over the body

Weight loss

or Loss of muscle mass

Whistling breathing

  • Recurrent

or Chest discomfort

Bluish discoloration of the skin

  • Fingernails

Risk factors

Smoking

History of allergy

or Breathing in dust, smoke or chemicals for a long period of time

or Recent contact/exposure to animals

Family history of obstructive lung disease

Treatment
1-Medications: Bronchodilator Medications. 2-Vaccines: Patients with emphysema should receive a flu shot annually and pneumonia shot every five to seven years to prevent infections. 3-Oxygen Therapy. 4-Surgery or Lung Transplant. 5-Protein Therapy. 6-Pulmonary Rehabilitation.
Recommended specialist

If you have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, then a visit to a pulmonologist is highly recommended.

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