{Emphysema

Do you have it or do you not??????????

Coughing, with or without mucus

Constant tiredness

Many respiratory infections

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) that gets worse with mild activity

Trouble catching one's breath

Wheezing

Are you suffering from the following symptoms?

THEN YOU MIGHT HAVE ………….EMPHYSEMA!!!!!!!!!!

Some of the earliest references to Emphysema include the Bonet’s description of “volumus lungs” 1679

There were 19 cases in which the lungs were “turgid”, particularly from air

Emphysema’s past

Smoking is the lead cause of emphysema

Exposure to certain gases or fumes in the workplace

Exposure to heavy amounts of second-hand smoke and pollution

Frequent use of cooking fire without proper ventilation

What causes emphysema?

The best test for emphysema is a lung function test called spirometry:

blowing out as hard as possible into a small machine that tests lung capacity.

What tests should you take?

There is no cure for emphysema Stop smoking, that is the best way to slow down lung

damage

Medications used to treat COPD include: Inhalers to open the airways, Inhaled steroids to reduce lung inflammation

In severe cases or during flare-ups, you may need to receive Steroids by mouth or through a vein, Bronchodilators through a nebulizer, or Oxygen therapy

How can you be treated?

Not smoking prevents most cases of ephysema.

Ask your doctor or health care provider about quit-smoking programs.

Medicines are also available to help kick the smoking habit. The medicines are most effective if you are motivated to quit.

Can you prevent it?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001153/

Bibliography