EmphysemaWhat it is, how you get it, its symptoms, how

it is treated, and more.

By Carolyn L

What is Emphysema?

• Emphysema is a long term disease of the lungs that damages the function of it.

• This disease can cause shortness of breath.• While having this disease, necessary tissue in

the lung is destroyed, as well as the airways.• Little structures called alveoli exchange the

oxygen in the air for CO2 in the blood stream. Emphysema causes small holes to be created in the alveoli, therefore not enough oxygen is getting to the bloodstream

Background

The word “emphysema” is a Greek word, meaning “air-filled” or “air-inflated.”

The Lungs and AirwaysThe lungs are normally spongy/ elastic.

Using the “sponge” the chest expands while breathing. The air that is taken in goes through a series of pipes: first, the trachea, then the bronchi, and it finally reaches the alveoli. The lungs need that elastic ability to breathe and like a sponge’s pores, alveoli are required for proper function.

In the lungs and the airways, there are small structures called the alveoli and the cilia.

The alveoli are the tiniest structures in the lungs, and are important for proper function. In a sponge, the fewer and larger pores there are, the worse the sponge works. Like the sponge, if the alveoli are too large or there aren’t enough, the function of the lungs decreases.

The cilia line the airways and help clean respiratory tracks. For instance, they might clean out mucus. Bacteria builds up without cilia and airways cannot be cleaned.

How Can You Get Emphysema?

• Emphysema is mostly caused by smoking; it affects the lungs in two ways.

• First, smoking destroys the cilia in the lung. Without cilia, the airways will not be able to be cleaned. Smoking also increases the amount of mucus secretions while decreasing the amount of cilia, which clean mucus secretions. Therefore, your airways can have a lot of bacteria.

• Smoking can also cause you to get emphysema because the immune cells cannot fight the bacteria and particles in the smoke you breathe in. If there is too much of this bacteria, then it can cause infections.

How Can You Get Emphysema? (continued)

• Another way of getting emphysema is by air pollution. How this affects your lungs is similar to the way smoking does.

• Also, if you have asthma, you are at a greater risk because your lungs are already not functioning properly.

• If you are a close relative of someone who has it, you have a greater chance of having it.

• Men have a greater chance of getting it than women.

• Lastly, the older you are, the greater risk you have because lung function declines as you grow older.

Emphysema Symptoms• One of the symptoms is shortness of breath. You cough

or wheeze because of the mucus buildup. • A decreasing tolerance for exercise is another sign of

having emphysema.• Next, the person with emphysema may become a

“pursed-lip breather.” He may struggle to exhale completely because the airways collapse and cannot hold up. A “pursed-lip breather” will purse his lips to allow air to come in and out of his lungs.

• Lastly, an emphysema patient could have a “barrel chest.” You can tell if someone has a barrel chest because the distance from his chest to his back is greater than the distance from side-to-side. This is because there is air trapped between the broken airways.

* You may not be able to tell you have emphysema right away because the deterioration of the lungs is slow, and it may go unnoticed.

Emphysema’s Treatment

• The most common treatment is to stop smoking. This may halt the development of the disease and it might improve the function of the lungs.

• Another treatment could be to take medications. Bronchodilating medications open up airways and are usually what doctors would prescribe first.

• Lastly, you could have an oxygen tube attached to your windpipe to enable you to receive the oxygen you need.

Prevention

• To prevent Emphysema, you should stop smoking. Daily smokers put themselves at a greater risk.

• Also, taking some medications may help to improve the function of the lungs before it’s too late.

More Facts- In 2000, 2.74 million people all around the world died from different types of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which emphysema can be categorized as.

-The World Health Organization (WHO) says that COPD is tied 4th/5th place with HIV/AIDS as the single cause of death.

-Emphysema is the 4th leading cause of death in the United States, and is predicted to be the 3rd by the year 2020.

-It is estimated that the total cost of treating COPD patients in 2002 was $32.1 billion; $14.1 billion were indirect costs, while $18 billion dollars were direct.

-Smokers are 10 to 15 times more likely to get emphysema than those who do not smoke.

-Emphysema is the only major disease that has an increasing amount of deaths; it is rising by 16%

-4-6% of males and 1-3% of females are thought to have emphysema in the U.S.

Diagrams

The Cilia Affected:

More DiagramsThe Alveoli; Before and After:

…And One Last DiagramPercentage of Distribution Of Emphysema (Age)

54%

41%

5%

18-44

45-64

65+

Why Did I Choose Emphysema?

I chose emphysema because it has affected my life greatly. My grandpa from my dad’s side died before I was born, so I was very close to my other grandpa. He had emphysema, and I have seen how he had suffered from the disease. He got it through smoking, during the time when we didn’t know smoking was bad for you. I really miss him and I want to understand more about what he suffered from and why.

Bibliography-Anderson, Gerard F.; Gross, Cary P.; Powe, Neil R. “COPD

Statistical Information.” http://www.copd-international.com/library/statistics.htm, March 16, 2004

-Kittredge, Mary; Koop, C. Everett; Thurman, Sandra. The Respiratory System. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1989. pg. 40-42

-Sharma, Sat. “Emphysema.” http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic654.htm, June 14, 2006

-Ware, Christopher J. “Emphysema.” http://www.emedicinehealth.com/emphysema/article_em.htm, October 26, 2005.