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Emphysema has no known cure, but treatments can slow its progress and manage symptoms. Smoking is the main cause, but weight loss, breathing exercises, and medication can help. Surgery, such as lung volume reduction or transplant, may also be options. Beware of miracle cures.
An Internet search of the phrase “cure for emphysema” will yield hundreds of articles describing promising research and advances. It will also produce a wide variety of purported miracle cures and treatments, including vitamin dosing, herbal remedies, diet, yoga, and similar practices. Despite these claims, there is no known cure for emphysema. Treatments for emphysema slow or stop the progress of the disease and might help the sufferer deal with the symptoms better, but they cannot undo the damage to the lungs.
Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in which the air sacs within the lungs lose their elasticity. Over time, the air sacs dilate and the lungs fill with air they cannot expel, causing the shortness of breath associated with the disease. No treatment or procedure can restore this elasticity, which means that there is no real cure for emphysema.
Air pollution, age, gender, and heredity are all risk factors for emphysema, but the main cause of the disease is smoking. Cigarette smoke causes inflammation and irritation in the lungs, resulting in long-term damage to lung tissue. According to the American Lung Association, smoking is directly responsible for at least 80% of COPD, including emphysema.
There is no cure for emphysema, but patients can do a lot to minimize the effects of the disease. Smokers are obviously advised to quit to avoid further damage to the lungs. Overweight patients can reduce the severity of symptoms by reducing weight through diet and exercise. A doctor can help develop plans for both, making sure all nutritional needs are met and exercises are effective without causing overexertion.
Deep breathing exercises can help strengthen the diaphragm and help patients breathe in more air with practice. Simply blowing through pursed lips can help the patient expel more air from the lungs and make inhalation easier. Medical professionals can guide patients through some simple breathing exercises and can suggest resting positions that aid in drainage, if needed.
You may also need prescription drugs to treat emphysema. Bronchodilators, for example, may be needed to open the airways. In some cases, supplemental oxygen may also be prescribed.
Surgical options may be beneficial for some patients. Lung volume reduction surgery removes a damaged portion of the lungs so that it does not obstruct the rest of the organ. Transplants are the closest procedure to a real cure for emphysema by replacing the damaged organ with healthy lung.
