Emphysema is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that directly affects the air sacs or what is known as alveoli in medical term. The elasticity of the alveoli is lost making them overinflated and eventually damaged since gaping holes result from over inflation, just like what happens to a balloon. These alveoli turn into irregular pockets without elasticity which greatly affects the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Air is just trapped inside the alveoli because it has lost its ability to recoil because of the lack of elasticity. This explains the patient’s main symptom of difficulty breathing, since the surface area is not enough to provide adequate ventilation, complications may develop with long term or chronic emphysema.

The causes of emphysema:

• Cigarette or tobacco smoking is the number one risk factor for emphysema. Many people who are chronic smokers suffer emphysema eventually since cigarette smoke and its chemicals are irritable to the airways, can cause build up of bacteria and mucus, impairs the sweeping motion o f the cilia which protects the airway. This is the root cause of infection. Cigarette also has its product which is tar. This affects the lung and airways. Since the body continuously fights off with the cigarette chemicals plus the bacteria growth it promotes, other lung cells are also affected. The body fights off through hormones and enzymes, and to produce these, protein is needed. But with continuous and long term release, protein is decreased affecting the lungs since protein is important for elasticity. With cigarette smoking, the risk for emphysema is great.

• Air pollution also plays a role with contributing to emphysema since pollution can irritate the airways and cause death of more alveoli.

• The Lack of alpha 1 antitrypsin is also another risk factor. Since alpha antitrypsin prevents destruction of the lungs with trypsin-an enzyme commonly found in the digestive tract. When antitrypsin is deficient, the tryspin can freely destroy the lung tissue.

• Individuals with a family risk of emphysema are at high risk too.

• Old age is another risk factor since during this time, the alveoli may have only small elasticity.

Signs and symptoms

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath is the main symptom of patients with emphysema
• Wheezing
• Rapid respirations defined by more than 20 breaths per minute
• Weakness or fatigue
• Activity intolerance-the patient has decreased energy or does not do previously desired activities at all. This is due to the lack of oxygen
• The anterior posterior chest measurement is bigger than the lateral measurement. This is also known as the barrel chest which is another noticeable symptom of emphysema.
• Chronic cough that is either productive or non productive
• Weight loss may accompany since the patient may not want to eat a lot because it would cause shortness of breath.

Emphysema is irreversible and treated with management and rehabilitation of the lungs to prevent further damage to the remaining alveoli. This is also a case to be met by BLS providers. Not yet certified? Get it at CPR Nashville