Pulmonary emphysema is a respiratory disease in which the lungs give elasticity mainly due to constant exposure to cigarettes, which in turn leads to the destruction of the alveoli responsible for oxygen exchange structures, this loss of lung elasticity occurs gradually, so in most cases , symptoms appear later.
Pulmonary emphysema has no cure, therefore treatment aims to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life through medications such as bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids prescribed by the pneumologist. Learn more about treating pulmonary emphysema.
- Symptoms of pulmonary emphysema occur when the lungs break elasticity and the alveoli are destroyed.
- As they are more common after age 50.
- Although:.
Shortness of air is the most common symptom and gradually worsens, so, in the early stages, it occurs when the person performs intense struggles and, when the patient empties, can appear even at rest, a good way to assess this symptom is to ask if the person performs the activities that occur most tired in the usual way , such as climbing stairs, getting out and running behind the bus, for example.
In more severe cases, emphysema can interfere with the ability to perform daily activities, such as bathing or walking around the house, and even cause loss of appetite, weight loss, depression, sleep disturbances and loss of libido. .
Emphysema usually occurs in smokers and people exposed to a lot of humus, such as people who use a lea oven or who work in carbon mines, for example, who are irritating and toxic to lung tissue. Lung injury, causing elasticity loss This results in a gradual loss of function, although it is common for symptoms to appear after age 50.
After the first signs, symptoms tend to get worse if not treated, varying from person to person and genetic factors.
To identify symptoms caused by emphysema, it is recommended to consult a pneumologist, who will evaluate signs and symptoms and realities such as chest x-rays or CT scans, for example.
However, tests can show normal results, even when you have this disease, so if this is the case, your doctor may request lung function problems to evaluate the exchange of oxygen at the pulmonary level, called spirometry. are done.