Several Ways In Which Emphysema May be Treated

Emphysema is actually a severe ailment of the lungs that happens to be a part of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is a condition in which a person finds extreme difficulty in breathing. An individual affected by Emphysema can easily inhale, however has got difficulty whilst breathing out. In this condition the air sacs or the alveoli in the lungs basically get damaged. The lungs also lose the ability to stretch and contract.

Emphysema is actually caused on account of being addicted to smoking. Due to long term use of tobacco the air passage becomes narrow thus making breathing difficult. An inherited protein deficiency can also be regarded as a cause. Coughing and even shortness of breath could be the initial symptoms of the illness. On account of Emphysema blood can't carry sufficient amount of oxygen thus leading to fatigue.

People suffering from this condition lack energy.They are unable to work or exercise and feel tired and exhausted. Reduction in weight can also be among the various indications of the problem. Whenever an individual affected by this problem consumes food, the stomach expands adding pressure on the diaphragm which thus puts pressure on the lungs because of which breathing becomes tough. Thus a person suffering from Emphysema generally avoids eating and also in many cases loss of appetite is a common symptom.

Emphysema is an irreversible condition. It can never be entirely treated. However the impact it has and the issues resulting due to it can be minimized. Giving up smoking can certainly help a long way in emphysema remedy. Even passive smoking should be avoided as it might aggravate the condition.

Regular exercising assists in the treatment of the problem. Going for walks or swimming can be the ideal form of workouts. Also various breathing exercises and yoga can be practiced. Medicines to treat Emphysema are being researched. As on date the options to cure Emphysema are very few. Medicines like anticholinergics or bronchodilators are usually prescribed. Bronchodilators are available in two forms, the one which can be inhaled and the one that can be taken orally. In some instances, steroid medications are also recommended.

Since the level of oxygen in the blood of the person affected by Emphysema is very low, they are usually told to take additional oxygen supply by the doctor to increase the level of oxygen in the blood.. Surgical treatment is also one of the options that may be considered to treat the condition. In this the damaged parts of the lungs are removed by surgery. In severe cases where surgery cannot be an option lung transplantation is given a consideration.

The signs of the condition of Emphysema begin to appear only when severe damage has been caused to the lungs. It is thus said to be a 'silent killer'. The damage caused by it is irreparable. It is highly advisible to go to a doctor if any of the symptoms of Emphysema appear since it can degenerate the health of the patient to a great extent.