What Is Emphysema?
Emphysema is a lung disease that causes shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Find out what causes it and how to treat it!
Emphysema is an irreversible condition caused by damage to the lungs. It usually affects older adults, although younger people can also develop it. The main cause of emphysema is smoking cigarettes, which damages the air sacs in the lungs.
What Causes Emphysema?
Smoking is the leading cause of emphysematous lung disease. Other common causes include exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution, and certain chemicals.
The Different Types of Emphysema
There are two main types of emphysema: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Acute Interstitial Pneumonia (AIP). COPD is caused by smoking and other environmental exposures. AIP occurs when an infection damages the lungs.
Symptoms of Emphysema and Treatment Options
Emphysema symptoms include coughing up mucus, wheezing, and shortness of breath. If left untreated, emphysema can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and lung cancer.
Preventing Emphysema
Emphysema occurs when air sacs in the lungs become damaged and inflamed. This damage leads to an imbalance between oxygen supply and demand in the body. As a result, the body has trouble getting enough oxygen into the blood stream.
Common Symptoms of Emphysema and Treatment Options
Emphysema symptoms vary based on the severity of the condition. However, common signs of emphysema include coughing up mucus, wheezing, and shortness of breath. If left untreated, emphysema can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and asthma.