Emphysema

Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), involving damage that has taken place to the air sacs, or alveoli in the lungs. Signs of emphysema include shortness of breath.

Because the air sacs in the lungs are damaged, the body cannot get enough oxygen, so patients often find it difficult to catch their breath. These patients may notice a chronic cough and trouble breathing during physical activity. Emphysema is most commonly caused by smoking.

To diagnose emphysema our staff will perform a complete physical exam and take a medical history. This will include questions with regards to your smoking habits and any family history of emphysema or COPD.

Treatment recommendations are based on the severity the symptoms associated with emphysema, whether they are mild, moderate or severe. Emphysema cannot be cured. The goal of treatment is to slow the progression of the disease, relieve symptoms, and help prevent complications, and it is critical that the source of irritation be removed. This means that the patient must stop smoking.

The best way to prevent emphysema is to never smoke. However, if you quit smoking at the very first signs of the disease, you can greatly reduce the severity of the symptoms that make breathing so difficult.

If you have been diagnosed with emphysema or you suspect you may have emphysema, please call our office for more information about how our team can help you successfully manage your emphysema.