Emphysema is a chronic lung disease, which damages the air sacs called alveoli by causing shortness of breath (dyspnea) due to the enlargement of lung sacs. Emphysema is also known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Ontario Lung Association,2015). Emphysema is a disease, which not only destroys the lung air sacs but it also reduces the amount of oxygen that can reach the bloodstream. Smoking is one of the main reasons for the cause of emphysema. Therefore, it occurs mostly to the people who smokes and it occurs very slowly (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2015). Beside the health assessment of emphysema, this paper will also follow about the pathophysiology of emphysema, signs & symptoms, risk factors and health history
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It also causes shortness of breath or dyspnea because of an expansion of the alveoli or the lung sacs. Due to the enlargement of the alveoli, it stops exchanging gases when breathing. Thus, Emphysema is also known as obstructive lung disease (eMedicineHealth, 2015). The lung sacs called alveoli helps exchanging the oxygen gases for carbon dioxide in the blood stream. However, the lung disease called emphysema creates a small hole in the alveoli, which stops transferring enough oxygen in the blood stream and destroys the airways (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2015). Usually, normal lung tissue looks like new sponge but due to the destruction of the tissue around the airways, the emphysema normal lung tissue looks just opposite as an old sponge with the holes around. Thus, having emphysema, not only destroys the air sacs of alveoli but it also affects the blood to flow of oxygen from the lungs in the bloodstream. In addition, beside air pollution and genetics, smoke inhalation and marijuana plays a significant role in generating emphysema (eMedicineHealth,
It also causes shortness of breath or dyspnea because of an expansion of the alveoli or the lung sacs. Due to the enlargement of the alveoli, it stops exchanging gases when breathing. Thus, Emphysema is also known as obstructive lung disease (eMedicineHealth, 2015). The lung sacs called alveoli helps exchanging the oxygen gases for carbon dioxide in the blood stream. However, the lung disease called emphysema creates a small hole in the alveoli, which stops transferring enough oxygen in the blood stream and destroys the airways (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2015). Usually, normal lung tissue looks like new sponge but due to the destruction of the tissue around the airways, the emphysema normal lung tissue looks just opposite as an old sponge with the holes around. Thus, having emphysema, not only destroys the air sacs of alveoli but it also affects the blood to flow of oxygen from the lungs in the bloodstream. In addition, beside air pollution and genetics, smoke inhalation and marijuana plays a significant role in generating emphysema (eMedicineHealth,