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Diseases » Emphysema » Introduction
 

Emphysema

Emphysema: Introduction

Emphysema is a chronic, ongoing, progressive disease of the lower respiratory tract in the lungs. It is one type of or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The hallmark of emphysema is difficulty with breathing that slowly gets worse over time. It is a seriously disabling disease with the potential for major complications and is often eventually fatal. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, emphysema/COPD is a major cause of disability, and it's the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.

The disease develops most often as a result of smoking, but can also occur from long-term inhalation of other irritants into the lungs and rarely, and rarely due to hereditary factors. Emphysema most often develops when irritants are breathed into the respiratory tract and into the bronchioles, small hollow passageways that branch off the main airway from the mouth and nose. Normally, air and needed oxygen pass through the bronchioles into the alveoli, tiny hollow sack-like structures in the lungs where oxygen is absorbed in to the bloodstream. When air is mixed with smoke or irritants, it can damage the lungs and their ability to take in enough oxygen. Long-term inhalation of irritants results in a loss of elasticity in the bronchioles and alveoli, destruction of the walls between alveoli. The longer the lungs are exposed to smoke or irritants, the more likely it is that you will develop emphysema. Emphysema is usually diagnosed in middle-age or elderly people, but it can happen younger in life. It is also more common in men than women.

Symptoms of Emphysema

See full list of 14 symptoms of Emphysema

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Emphysema:

Emphysema: Complications

Review possible medical complications related to Emphysema:

Disease Topics Related To Emphysema

Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Emphysema:

Medical Textbooks Online about Emphysema

Medical Books Excerpts
 

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Emphysema?

Emphysema: Self Assessment Tools

Emphysema: Medical Mistakes

Emphysema: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

Products, offers and promotion categories available for Emphysema:

Emphysema: Undiagnosed Conditions

Commonly undiagnosed diseases in related medical categories:

Misdiagnosis and Emphysema

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Chronic lung diseases hard to diagnose: Some of the chronic lung diseases are difficult to diagnose. Even the well-knowns conditions such as asthma or lung cancer often fail to be diagnosed early...read more »

Severe asthma is a medical emergency: Severe asthma is a life threatening condition that is resistant to standard treatment and requires intensive medication to overcome the obstruction to the air passages....read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Emphysema

Emphysema: Research Doctors & Specialists

Research related physicians and medical specialists:

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Hospitals & Clinics: Emphysema

Research quality ratings and patient safety measures for medical facilities in specialties related to Emphysema:

Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »

Choosing the Best Hospital: More general information, not necessarily in relation to Emphysema, on hospital performance and surgical care quality:

Emphysema: Rare Types

Rare types of diseases and disorders in related medical categories:

Causes of Emphysema

See full list of 9 causes of Emphysema

More information about causes of Emphysema:

Treatments for Emphysema

See full list of 16 treatments for Emphysema

Latest Treatments for Emphysema

See full list of 20 latest treatments for Emphysema

News Archives for Emphysema

Medical news articles related to Emphysema include:

Source: HealthDay News

Videos for Emphysema

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Your Rights as a Patient

Your Rights as a PatientWhenever you go to a hospital or clinic for a major procedure or diagnostic test, one of the many forms you are given to sign is an "informed...

Poor Sleep's Effect on Health

Poor Sleep's Effect on HealthSleep is necessary to feel refreshed, but now we know sleep actually impacts the way the body functions. Sleeping poorly can affect how often you get...

 
See full list of 4 related videos

Patient Surveys for Emphysema

Prognosis for Emphysema

Prognosis for Emphysema: Emphysema is an irreversible degenerative condition. The most important measure to slow its progression is for the patient to stop smoking and avoid all exposure to cigarette smoke and lung irritants. Pulmonary rehabilitation can be very helpful to optimize the patient's quality of life.

More about prognosis of Emphysema

Reseach about Emphysema

Visit our research pages for current research about Emphysema treatments.

Clinical Trials for Emphysema

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Emphysema include:

See full list of 108 Clinical Trials for Emphysema

Prevention of Emphysema

Prevention information for Emphysema has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Emphysema.

Read more about prevention of Emphysema

Statistics for Emphysema

Emphysema: Broader Related Topics

Types of Emphysema

Types of Emphysema

  • Smoker’s emphysema - common form, also called nonfamilial emphysema; about 15-20% of smokers get Emphysema
  • Familial emphysema - a rare genetic inherited form, often arising earlier (30's or 40's).
  • more types...»

Read more about Types of Emphysema

Curable Types of Emphysema

Possibly curable types of Emphysema include:

  • Smoking induced Emphysema
  • Occupational exposure induced Emphysema
  • Air pollution induced Emphysema
  • more types...»

Rare Types of Emphysema:

Rare types of Emphysema include:

  • Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency induced Emphysema
  • Cooking smoke induced Emphysema
  • Repeated lung infection induced Emphysema
  • Silicosis induced Emphysema
  • Primary emphysema
  • more types...»

Stories from Users Related to Emphysema

Related forums and medical stories:

User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Emphysema, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

Definitions of Emphysema:

A subcategory of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It occurs in people who smoke and suffer from chronic bronchitis. It is characterized by inflation of the alveoli, alveolar wall damage, and reduction in the number of alveoli, resulting in difficulty breathing. Alveoli are the vital lung structures where the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. -- 2004 - (Source - Diseases Database)

An abnormal condition of the lungs marked by decreased respiratory function; associated with smoking or chronic bronchitis or old age - (Source - WordNet 2.1)


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