Emphysema is simply one of the many diseases that entail interference in the normal functioning of the lungs. The person's lungs should be kept in its proper shape to prevent any interference. Oxygenation of the blood takes place in the lungs, and that is also where gases interchange.
When the lungs do not function normally, it could mean that the tissue that maintains its shape is malfunctioning or even destroyed. Symptoms will become more observable, and this is our attempt to define what those symptoms are. Be reminded, however, that you cannot expect to witness these symptoms all at once. In truth, they will become more observable one after the other, starting with the simpler ones to the more complicated symptoms.
A person with emphysema will first show signs of breathlessness. This is one of the first symptoms of this lung disease. Destruction of the lung tissue ' which this specific disease is all about ' takes quite a while, which explains the gradual progression of the disease. Breathlessness would set in after a major exertion, and this happens at the beginning of the disease or when the problem starts. Soon, the breathlessness will become a regular occurrence, even without major exertion, because the lung tissue is deteriorating. If left unchecked, it could even reach the point when the patient will start becoming breathless even when he is sitting or standing still. At first, people would treat bouts of breathlessness as something that is normal. The symptoms could then become distressing if left too long. That is when the person decides to get proper medical treatment for their condition.
If you have emphysema, you will also notice a bit of chest expansion going on. This is the obvious result of the breathing difficulties associated with the disease. The chest would have to expand to noticeable extent in order to compensate for the lack of air and difficulty in breathing. Evidence for the expansion is normally found when the antero-posterior diameter measurement of the chest is taken, and compared with what would ordinarily be expected.
Skin discoloration is also another symptom of this lung disease. You will see the skin of the patient suddenly turning shades of blue. You will find this to be a symptom common among many lung diseases since there isn't enough oxygenation of the blood. The medical term for this symptom is cyanosis. Just like usual symptoms of lung diseases, they do not happen in a flash. Cyanosis, in the beginning, is barely noticeable. But if you don't do a thing about your emphysema, it could become even worse; the bluish tint on the skin becoming even more glaring.
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Treatment For Emphysema
When the lungs do not function normally, it could mean that the tissue that maintains its shape is malfunctioning or even destroyed. Symptoms will become more observable, and this is our attempt to define what those symptoms are. Be reminded, however, that you cannot expect to witness these symptoms all at once. In truth, they will become more observable one after the other, starting with the simpler ones to the more complicated symptoms.
A person with emphysema will first show signs of breathlessness. This is one of the first symptoms of this lung disease. Destruction of the lung tissue ' which this specific disease is all about ' takes quite a while, which explains the gradual progression of the disease. Breathlessness would set in after a major exertion, and this happens at the beginning of the disease or when the problem starts. Soon, the breathlessness will become a regular occurrence, even without major exertion, because the lung tissue is deteriorating. If left unchecked, it could even reach the point when the patient will start becoming breathless even when he is sitting or standing still. At first, people would treat bouts of breathlessness as something that is normal. The symptoms could then become distressing if left too long. That is when the person decides to get proper medical treatment for their condition.
If you have emphysema, you will also notice a bit of chest expansion going on. This is the obvious result of the breathing difficulties associated with the disease. The chest would have to expand to noticeable extent in order to compensate for the lack of air and difficulty in breathing. Evidence for the expansion is normally found when the antero-posterior diameter measurement of the chest is taken, and compared with what would ordinarily be expected.
Skin discoloration is also another symptom of this lung disease. You will see the skin of the patient suddenly turning shades of blue. You will find this to be a symptom common among many lung diseases since there isn't enough oxygenation of the blood. The medical term for this symptom is cyanosis. Just like usual symptoms of lung diseases, they do not happen in a flash. Cyanosis, in the beginning, is barely noticeable. But if you don't do a thing about your emphysema, it could become even worse; the bluish tint on the skin becoming even more glaring.
Recommended Link:
Treatment For Emphysema