Pulmonary emphysema means that the small lung blisters are damaged. Then it becomes more difficult to breathe. The disease is usually due to prolonged smoking and is almost always part of the disease COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Symptoms of Pulmonary Emphysema
A common problem with pulmonary emphysema is that you get short of breath even with slight exertion.
Another sign of the disease is that you find it easier to exhale with resistance. It can cause you to close your lips almost completely and breathe with a small opening as if you were blowing out a candle.
Pulmonary emphysema is rarely noticed before the age of 40-45.
When and where should I seek care
If you think you have pulmonary emphysema, contact a health care provider. You can contact many receptions by logging in.
Treatment for Pulmonary Emphysema
The treatment for pulmonary emphysema is similar to the treatment for pulmonary disease COPD.
The best thing you can do to stop the progression of the disease is to stop smoking if you smoke.
There are no drugs that help with changes that have already occurred in the lungs. However, there are drugs that provide some relief if you have COPD.
Physical exercise is good for you to be able to cope more and not as easily get breathless. The more physically active you are, the slower the disease develops.
It can take a lot of energy if you have a lot of trouble with breathing. It can cause you to lose weight. Then you can get special nutritional supplements prescribed by a dietitian.
You may need oxygen therapy if the disease has been developing for a long time and your lungs are very affected. You can have oxygen treatment both at home and in the hospital.
It is important that you vaccinate yourself against the flu and against pneumococci. These are diseases that may be extra serious for you who have pulmonary emphysema.
What happens in the body?
The task of the lungs is to carry oxygen from the air you breathe into the blood. At the same time, the carbon dioxide in the blood is aired out. To make this possible, the lungs are made up of a tissue made up of billions of small elastic lungs, alveoli.
When you have pulmonary emphysema, the thin walls between the pulmonary vesicles have been damaged or broken completely. Instead of a small cluster of pulmonary vesicles, a kind of inelastic sac is formed. As a result, the switch between oxygen and carbon dioxide cannot work properly. Then you may have difficulty getting enough oxygen in you.
Pulmonary emphysema can be different in size and is usually present in both lungs.
Influence and participate in your care
In order for you to be involved in your care and treatment, it is important that you understand the information you receive from the healthcare personnel. Ask questions if you don’t understand.
You have the opportunity to get help from an interpreter. You also have the opportunity to get help from an interpreter if you have a hearing loss.
If you need tools, you should get information about what is available and how to get it.