Find information on thousands of medical conditions and prescription drugs.

Emphysema

Emphysema is a chronic lung disease. It is often caused by exposure to toxic chemicals or long-term exposure to tobacco smoke. more...

Home
Diseases
A
B
C
D
E
Ebola hemorrhagic fever
Ebstein's anomaly
Eclampsia
Ectodermal Dysplasia
Ectopic pregnancy
Ectrodactyly
Edwards syndrome
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Ehrlichiosis
Eisoptrophobia
Elective mutism
Electrophobia
Elephantiasis
Ellis-Van Creveld syndrome
Emetophobia
Emphysema
Encephalitis
Encephalitis lethargica
Encephalocele
Encephalomyelitis
Encephalomyelitis, Myalgic
Endocarditis
Endocarditis, infective
Endometriosis
Endomyocardial fibrosis
Enetophobia
Enterobiasis
Eosinophilia-myalgia...
Eosinophilic fasciitis
Eosophobia
Ependymoma
Epicondylitis
Epidermolysis bullosa
Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis
Epididymitis
Epilepsy
Epiphyseal stippling...
Epistaxiophobia
EPP (erythropoietic...
Epstein barr virus...
Equinophobia
Ergophobia
Erysipelas
Erythema multiforme
Erythermalgia
Erythroblastopenia
Erythromelalgia
Erythroplakia
Erythropoietic...
Esophageal atresia
Esophageal varices
Esotropia
Essential hypertension
Essential thrombocythemia
Essential thrombocytopenia
Essential thrombocytosis
Euphobia
Evan's syndrome
Ewing's Sarcoma
Exencephaly
Exophthalmos
Exostoses
Exploding head syndrome
Hereditary Multiple...
Hereditary Multiple...
Hereditary Multiple...
Hereditary Multiple...
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Medicines

Signs and symptoms

Emphysema is characterised by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue; destruction of structures supporting the alveoli; and destruction of capillaries feeding the alveoli. The result is that the small airways collapse during expiration, leading to an obstructive form of lung disease (air is trapped in the lungs in obstructive lung diseases). Features are: shortness of breath on exertion--particularly when climbing stairs or inclines (and later at rest), hyperventilation and an expanded chest. As emphysema progresses, clubbing of the fingers may be observed, a feature of longstanding hypoxia.

Emphysema patients are sometimes referred to as "pink puffers". This is because emphysema sufferers may hyperventilate to maintain adequate blood oxygen levels. Hyperventilation explains why emphysema patients do not appear cyanotic as chronic bronchitis (another COPD disorder) sufferers often do; hence they are "pink" puffers (adequate oxygen levels in the blood) and not "blue" bloaters (cyanosis; inadequate oxygen in the blood).

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is by spirometry (lung function testing), including diffusion testing. Other investigations might include X-rays, high resolution spiral chest CT-scan, bronchoscopy (when other lung disease is suspected, including malignancy), blood tests, pulse oximetry and arterial blood gas sampling.

Pathophysiology

The scientific definition of emphysema is:

"Permanent destructive enlargement of the airspaces distal to the terminal bronchioles without obvious fibrosis".

Hence, the definite diagnosis is made by a pathologist. However, we can easily ascertain clinical diagnosis by history, clinical examination, chest radiography and lung function tests.

In normal breathing, air is drawn in through the bronchial passages and down into the increasingly fine network of tubing in the lungs called the alveoli, which are many thousands of tiny sacs surrounded by capillaries. These absorb the oxygen and transfer it into the blood. When toxins such as smoke are breathed into the lungs, the particles are trapped by the hairs and cannot be exhaled, leading to a localised inflammatory response. Chemicals released during the inflammatory response (trypsin, elastase, etc.) are released and begin breaking down the walls of alveoli. This leads to fewer but larger alveoli, with a decreased surface area and a decreased ability to take up oxygen and lose carbon dioxide. The activity of another molecule called alpha 1-antitrypsin normally neutralizes the destructive action of one of these damaging molecules.

After a prolonged period, hyperventilation becomes inadequate to maintain high enough oxygen levels in the blood, and the body compensates by vasoconstricting appropriate vessels. This leads to pulmonary hypertension. This leads to enlargement and increased strain on the right side of the heart, which in turn leads to peripheral edema (swelling of the peripherals) as blood gets backed up in the systemic circulation, causing fluid to leave the circulatory system and accumulate in the tissues.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


[List your site here Free!]


Breathing Free : The Revolutionary 5-Day Program to Heal Asthma, Emphysema, Bronchitis, and Other Respiratory Ailments $5.99 Emphysema And Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Therapeutic Approaches Through Nutrition Natural Medicine Alternative Medicine $22.64
Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions: Self-Management of Heart Disease, Arthritis, Diabetes, Asthma, Bronchitis, Emphysema & Others $12.84 The Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema Handbook $6.70
Courage and Information for Life with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: The Handbook for Patients, Families and Care Givers Managing COPD, Emphysema, Bronchitis $26.40 Final Negotiations: A Story of Love, Loss, and Chronic Illness (Health, Society, and Policy) $5.88
Adventures of an Oxy-Phile $4.98 21st Century Complete Medical Guide to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Emphysema, Authoritative Government Documents, Clinical References, ... for Patients and Physicians (CD-ROM) $16.50
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Practical, Medical, and Spiritual Guidelines for Daily Living With Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis, and Combination Diagnosis (Hazelden Pocket Health Guide) $0.30 Living a Healthy Life With Chronic Conditions: Self-Management of Heart Disease, Arthritis, Stroke, Diabetes, Asthma, Bronchitis, Emphysema & Others $0.90

Surgical emphysema in the neck as a result of a dental procedure
Abstract We report the development of subcutaneous emphysema in a middle-aged woman that occurred several hours after she had undergone a dental restoration ...
Spontaneous retropharyngeal and cervical emphysema: a rare singer's injury
Abstract Spontaneous retropharyngeal and cervical emphysema is rare. We describe a case that was unusual in its etiology: the result of singing. Although ...
Role of quantitative CT in predicting hypoxemia and complications after lung lobectomy for cancer, with special reference to area of emphysema
Study objectives: To determine the ability of quantitative CT, with special reference to area of emphysema, to predict early postoperative oxygenation ...
Elective surgery for giant bullous emphysema : a 5-year clinical and functional follow-up
Background: So far, very few studies in the literature have reported data on the long-term follow-up of patients who have undergone surgery for giant ...
Improved neurobehavioral functioning in emphysema patients following lung volume reduction surgery compared with medical therapy
Study objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the neuropsychological and psychological functioning of emphysema patients following lung volume ...
Surgical emphysema following tonsillectomy
Abstract Complications of tonsillectomy have been well documented. However, subcutaneous emphysema of the neck following tonsillectomy has rarely been described. We report a case of this complica
CT-scan determination of advanced, heterogeneous upper lobe emphysema at sites participating in a multicenter trial of the intrabronchial valve do not
PURPOSE: Results of the National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) demonstrated that patients with advanced, predominant upper lobe emphysema benefit ...
Early and long-term results of lung volume reduction in patients with emphysema
PURPOSE: We hypothesized that dyspnea in patients with emphysema was related with hyperinflation by highly destructed part with excessive trapped air ...

Home Contact Resources Exchange Links ebay