What are the symptoms of emphysema?

What are the symptoms of emphysema?

What are symptoms of emphysema?

• Shortness of breath, especially during light exercise or climbing steps.
• Ongoing feeling of not being able to get enough air.
• Long-term cough or “smoker’s cough”
• Wheezing.
• Long-term mucus production.
• Ongoing fatigue.

Can emphysema go away?

There’s no cure for emphysema. Current treatments aim to slow the progression of the disease and reduce symptoms. Your doctor will recommend a treatment based on the severity and stage of your condition.

What are the top two causes of emphysema?

There are two major known causes of emphysema: Smoking. Most of the time, tobacco is the main culprit. Doctors don’t know exactly how smoking destroys air sac linings, but studies show that smokers are about six times more likely to develop emphysema than are nonsmokers.

What are the dangers of emphysema?

A collapsed lung can be life-threatening in people who have severe emphysema, because the function of their lungs is already so compromised. This is uncommon but serious when it occurs. Heart problems. Emphysema can increase the pressure in the arteries that connect the heart and lungs.

How does emphysema effect the human body?

Emphysema is difficulty breathing due to air trapped in the lung, resulting in reduced lung capacity . Smoking is usually the cause, as it damages the linings of the air sacs in the lungs making them close. This leads to areas of trapped air in your lungs. Other causes may include coal dust and other pollutants.

How does emphysema damage the tissue?

Emphysema develops over time and involves the gradual damage of lung tissue, specifically the destruction of the alveoli (tiny air sacs). Gradually, this damage causes the air sacs to rupture and create one big air pocket instead of many small ones. This reduction in the lung surface area traps air in the damaged tissue and prevents oxygen from moving through the bloodstream.