Emphysema Research Paper

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Emphysema is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder that is characterized by destructive changes in the alveolar walls and irreversible enlargement of alveolar air spaces. This disorder causes loss of elasticity in the walls of the alveolar walls, which results in the walls stretching and after an amount of time eventually breaking. Once damage to the walls occurs, the air spaces are unable to carry out the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Due to the disruption in the breakage and exchange process and inability to carry out duty, the remaining alveoli that is working correctly becomes overinflated and eventually makes exhaling difficult. Smokers put themselves at risk because they have genetic predisposition along with those that have …show more content…

Emphysema causes the patient to use more muscles to push the air out of the alveoli which causes barrel chest. Other symptoms that can occur includes shortness of breath and dyspnea that will increase. Circumoral cyanosis and symptoms of right ventricular heart failure can also occur as the disease progresses. Emphysema diagnosis is normally symptomatic, which helps in the proper diagnosis. Emphysema can be diagnosed by patient history and clinical exam, pulmonary function studies and radiologic chest studies also help in the diagnosis. Due to the fact that emphysema is not asymptomatic, the diagnosis is much easier when present in the medical office. Certain signs that doctors look for any breathing difficulties, hypertension, polycythemia, wheezing and barrel chest appearance. Other symptoms that can occur include hepatomegaly, edema, blue-ish discoloration around the mouth and clubbed fingers which encourages treatment options that need to be considered. Drug therapy treatment options for emphysema includes adrenergic sympathomimetic drug or can be used in combination with corticosteroid. Other treatment options include medications for GERD, oxygen therapy and in certain cases surgery could be considered. Treatment methods encourage the patient to avoid any pulmonary irritants, getting their flu shot annually, and pulmonary rehabilitation. Unfortunately, the prognosis for emphysema is very poor. This disease is actually one of the most common causes of death in the U.S.. Prevention of emphysema is basic education about health risk that can occur from long-term smoking. Also parents should make sure to prevent repeated respiratory infection from occurring to limit the

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