Emphysema is a progressive lung disease that damages air sacs and makes breathing difficult. Symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, persistent cough, chest tightness, fatigue, and bluish skin. Smoking is the leading cause, and early treatment is crucial.
Emphysema is a life-threatening disease of the lungs that makes it difficult for a person to breathe. Emphysema is a progressive disease that cannot be stopped once it develops. However, treatment may be able to slow the progression of the disease; therefore it is important that those experiencing symptoms of emphysema see their doctor as soon as possible.
One of the first symptoms of emphysema is shortness of breath when performing a physical activity. Emphysema damages the alveoli, or air sacs, in the lungs. The damaged air sacs are unable to effectively transfer some of the oxygen that has been inhaled into the bloodstream, causing shortness of breath.
Emphysema also reduces the lungs’ ability to fully exhale air. This limits the amount of oxygen-rich air that can be inhaled from the lungs. As the disease progresses, it can not only cause shortness of breath during a physical activity, but it can also cause difficulty breathing while a person is at rest. If a person notices that they tire easily during routine activities or are unable to perform low effort or moderate exercise due to shortness of breath, they should contact their doctor immediately.
Besides shortness of breath, wheezing is another of the most common symptoms of emphysema. Wheezing may be heard on exhalation, inhalation, or both. While wheezing is a sign that the lungs may be malfunctioning due to other medical conditions, the wheezing associated with emphysema generally occurs during the first part of the exhalation.
Another of the more common symptoms of emphysema is a persistent cough. A person with emphysema may have a constant cough that may or may not produce excess mucus that needs to be cleared out. A persistent cough can also be indicative of respiratory conditions other than or combined with emphysema, such as bronchitis, so you should see a doctor if your cough doesn’t go away or if it consistently produces yellow or green mucus.
Symptoms of emphysema may also include tightness in the chest, fatigue, loss of appetite or weight, a bluish discoloration of the skin, especially around the mouth, confusion, and dizziness. While the presence of these symptoms may not mean that a person has emphysema, these symptoms can be signs that the body is experiencing difficulty breathing and not getting enough oxygen. If any of these symptoms persist, a doctor should be notified.
Approximately three million people in the United States are thought to have been diagnosed with the disease, and 120,000 people die each year from it. This makes emphysema the fourth leading cause of death in the US While heredity and age are a factor in some developing emphysema, by far the biggest cause of the disease is cigarette, pipe or cigar smoking.
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