Emphysema is a condition of lung belonging to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) group of disorders. It’s a chronic, progressive illness that gets worse with time, causing the air sacs to become less elastic, which makes breathing challenging. The alveoli, which are the lungs’ tiny air sacs where oxygen is exchanged, are mainly affected.

Causes and Risk Factors

The most common causes include:

Smoking: It is a leading cause cigarette smoke damages lung tissue and irritates the airways.

Air Pollution and Chemical Exposure: With long-term exposure to certain fumes, dust, or industrial pollutants.

Genetics: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a rare genetic disorder, can cause early-onset emphysema, even in non-smokers.

Aging: With aging our lungs naturally lose elasticity and worsen emphysema in combination with other factors.

Sign and symptoms:

Symptoms worsened with severity of the condition.

  • Shortness of breath, initially with activity, and at rest when condition becomes advanced.
  • Chronic cough
  • Wheezing
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Weight loss
  • Barrel-shaped chest (from overinflated lungs)
  • Recurrent lung infections
  • In danced disease, low oxygen level

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made in combination with history, examination and some investigation as follows:

  • Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs): to assess the lung capacity and airflow
  • Chest X-ray or CT scan: to check the structure damage of the lungs.
  • Blood Tests: ABGs, assessing oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.
  • Alpha-1 antitrypsin test.

Treatment Options

There is no cure for emphysema, but treatments can help manage symptoms and slow progression:

 Lifestyle Changes

  • Quit smoking
  • Avoid the exposure to irritants (dust, fumes, air pollution)

Medications

  • Bronchodilators: inhalers and nebulizers, these help to open airways
  • Steroids: in form of inhalers, nebulizer or tablets, these medicinesreduce inflammation
  • Antibiotics: For infections like bronchitis or pneumonia

Oxygen Therapy

  • In advanced disease, long term oxygen therapy ma be needed. This can be provided by use of various devices.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

  • Can be done at home this involve exercise, breathing training, and education to improve quality of life.
  • Respiratory therapist or trained physiotherapist, may be involved in some cases.

Surgery (for severe cases)

  • Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS): Removes damaged lung tissue
  • Lung transplant: For advanced cases where other treatments fail.

Preventive measure, Vaccination:

Recommended to prevent developing certain serious infections that can worsen the underlying condition.

  • Annual Flu vaccine
  • Pneumonia vaccine
  • COVID-19 vaccine

Early diagnosis, smoking cessation, and consistent medical care are vital in managing the disease and maintaining quality of life.