Emphysema

I chose emphysema because I have known several people in my life that have either struggled personally with the condition or have had a family member that has suffered from the condition. This was also a condition that I am very interested in knowing more about and this offered an opportunity to find and organize information. Emphysema is a condition that is mainly cause by consistent and long-term exposure to irritants. Some causes are tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke, pollution of the air, and manufactured fumes. Patients can also rarely inherit a deficiency of a protein that works to protect the elastic structures in the lungs. This is a specific kind of emphysema and is called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency emphysema. This type of emphysema is very rare and a interesting case when it is known. Patients can have emphysema for a long time without any idea. Shortness of breath is the main symptom of emphysema and begins so gradually that many don’t notice until it progresses to where suffers are short of breath even when they are at rest. Patients should see …show more content…
The goal for those with emphysema is the slow the progression of the damage being done. Doctors will prescribe different medications based on symptom severity. Bronchodilators will help to relieve coughing and shortness of breath. Antibiotics will work to combat a bacterial infection like pneumonia. Inhaled steroids may also be prescribed to help with shortness of breath. Inhaled steroids can have negative effects and is not a very welcomed treatment for some. Surgery can also be performed to treat emphysema as well. Surgery to remove small amounts of damaged lung tissue to help the remaining tissue work more properly. Lung transplants can also be performed if all other options are ineffective. I find it very interesting that treatment is very hit or miss and none are proven to be very effective in the treatment of