Emphysema damages the alveoli in the lungs, reducing oxygen levels in the blood and causing symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue. It can also lead to complications such as high blood pressure and heart failure, with smoking being the leading cause.
Emphysema limits a patient’s ability to get the necessary amount of oxygen through the lungs. While this has an immediate impact on a patient’s quality of life, emphysema can also have long-term and life-threatening effects on other organs in the body, especially the heart. The effect of emphysema on the heart can include increased blood pressure, enlarged heart, and heart failure.
The small air sacs in the lung are known as alveoli. During inhalation, air enters the lungs and passes through the bronchial tree into the alveoli, causing the alveoli to expand. The oxygen molecules are transferred to the red blood cells and go on to supply the rest of the body with much needed oxygenated blood. Carbon dioxide is transferred to the alveoli so that it can be exhaled.
With emphysema, the alveoli become damaged, inflamed, and lose their elasticity. This damage causes the oxygen content in the blood to decrease and makes it more difficult to expel air from the lungs and to inhale fresh air. It also leads to a number of common emphysema symptoms and the damaging effects of emphysema on the heart.
Symptoms of emphysema include shortness of breath, wheezing, fatigue, and a chronic cough. Effects on the heart are among the complications associated with emphysema. This is because the heart relies on adequate levels of well-oxygenated blood for proper function.
As emphysema becomes more severe, the arteries in the lung begin to narrow making it difficult for blood to flow at the proper rate. Because of this, the heart has to pump harder to push the required amount of blood through the arteries. This will raise blood pressure in the arteries, leading to the lungs and causing a condition known as pulmonary hypertension. High blood pressure can lead to an enlargement of the heart muscle, known as hypertrophy.
Emphysema can eventually lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is often fatal. The leading cause of emphysema is smoking. Genetics, aging, and protein deficiency can also increase the risk of developing emphysema for both smokers and non-smokers. Other possible causes include drug use, immune deficiencies, and connective tissue-related diseases, such as Marfan syndrome.
Heart failure becomes a real concern when looking at the effects of emphysema on the heart. When the oxygen level in the blood deteriorates, the heart begins to fail under the added stress. Over time, this will lead to fluid buildup in the body and possibly the need for end-of-life care and management, representing another impact of emphysema on the heart and body.
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