Emphysema Research Paper

D.Z., a 65-year-old man, is admitted to a medical floor for exacerbation of his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; emphysema). He has a past medical history of hypertension, which has been well controlled by Enalapril (Vasotec) for the past 6 years. He has had pneumonia yearly for the past 3 years, and has been a 2-pack-a-day smoker for 38 years. He appears as a cachectic man who is experiencing difficulty breathing at rest. He reports cough productive of thick yellow-green sputum. D.Z. seems irritable and anxious; he complains of sleeping poorly and states that lately feels tired most of the time. His vital signs (VS) are 162/84, 124, 36, 102 F, SaO2 88%. His admitting diagnosis is an acute

As a result of emphysema there is a significant loss of alveolar attachments, which contributes to peripheral airway collapse. There are two major types of emphysema according to the distribution within the acinus and they are; (i) centrolobular emphysema which involves dilatation and destruction of the respiratory bronchioles; and (ii) panlobular emphysema which involves destruction of the whole of the acinus. According to theory, centrolobular is the most common type of emphysema in COPD and is more prominent in the upper zones, while panlobular predominates in patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and is more prominent in the lower zones. In relation to patients D.Z. with emphysema, the walls between the tiny air sacs in the lungs are damaged due to long-term cigarette smoking effect on his lungs as evidenced by patient c/o difficulty breathing at rest and productive cough with thick yellow-green sputum r/t a

A female patient 83 years of age has been diagnosed with Emphysema and has had this disease for 10 years. She has been in good shape her whole life and has been big into health and fitness. However, the critical etiological risk factor was that she participated in tobacco smoking for a brief period of her 20’s. She was informed of the disease by visiting a general practioner and therefore getting referred to a respiratory specialist. The laboratory tests used to establish her diagnosis included a lung function test, X ray and sleep apnoea test in hospital overnight. Her most common symptoms include shortness of

Emphysema is the most common cause of death from respiratory disease in the United States and is generally caused by several years of heavy cigarette smoking (Olendorf, 2000). When a person smokes, the body’s immune system tries to fight off the invading smoke by using certain substances. These substances can also attack the cells of the lungs, but normally the body is able to release other substances to prevent this. In the case of people who are smokers, this doesn’t happen and the original substances that were released to fight off the smoke also end up injuring the cells of the lungs as well. Eventually, the lungs will not be able to supply enough oxygen to the blood and a host of problems can occur with this. Risk factors that have been identified for emphysema include exposure to tobacco smoke either through active or passive smoking (2nd hand smoke), occupational exposure such as dust or chemicals, ambient air pollution, or genetic abnormalities, including a deficiency of alpha-antitrypsin, an enzyme inhibitor that normally counteracts the destruction of lung tissue by certain other enzymes (Smeltzer, 2010). The symptoms of emphysema develop gradually over many years. It is generally characterized by three primary symptoms: chronic cough, sputum production, and dyspnea on exertion. Other signs and symptoms include weight loss and the development of a

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (http://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/copd/001/) is considered one of the most common causes of death in the world today and, it appears that most of the patients are active smokers. However, according to researchers, the pulmonary disease can affect everybody, not only people who smoke.

Emphysema is the third leading cause of death in the United States. It is a chronic, progressive disease that affects the morbidity and mortality of life. Like many chronic diseases, diagnosis is affected by numerous variables. There is no cure; however, there are effective treatment methods which can slow the progression of the disease and allow for a normal life. In short, the diagnosis of emphysema is not a death sentence. Rather, it is an illness that should prompt a person diagnosed with it to take the lead in the management of the disease. The primary risk factor for this disease that can be controlled is the smoking of cigarettes. Smoking cessation is the most beneficial first step to preventing or stopping the development or progression

changes in the lungs. The walls of the airways thicken and more mucus is produced. Damage to

Emphysema can affect others parts of the body which lead to others disease. The patient who has emphysema may get

Emphysema is a condition of the lungs that involves the over-inflation of the air sacs, otherwise known as the alveoli. Normal functioning of the alveoli helps breathing in normal respiration. Unlike other lung diseases this one can be inherited. This is a disease that can affect people of all ages and genders. In 1994, the number of males with emphysema outnumbered the females by fifty four percent. However, in the two years that followed the difference between males and females decreased by ten percent.

One of the most common forms of COPD is emphysema. A major sign of emphysema is a feeling that the patient cannot take a deep breath. This is because alveoli, which are small sacs in the lungs that hold air, decompose and form larger sacs. This causes the sacs to become less flexible

Emphysema affects the parenchyma of the lung through destruction of the alveolar walls, leading to permanent enlargement of air spaces distal to the

Breathing in and out is an innate behavior that we are born with; also, it is a behavior that people take for granted. Let’s say, people who smoke think a cough, or a cough with phlegm is a sign that they are about to get a cold, but then again it can be a sign of a potential health problem like emphysema, asthma, or tuberculosis. People smoke for different reasons; nevertheless, it is an addiction that they can recover from. It may take them several tries to quit smoking, but they can quit. People don’t think about the harm that they are putting on their lungs and alveoli when they put a cigarette to their mouth. For example, many long time smokers are diagnose with emphysema every minute. Emphysema is an example of a chronic obstructive

Dealing with a health condition is certainly something the majority of us hope not to face. Illnesses make their appearance in a variety of ways and usually people have little control whether they suffer a health condition or not, as it is in the case of hereditary or blood transmitted diseases. Nonetheless, there are some illnesses that can be prevented by adjusting healthier life styles, as it is in the case of emphysema. Even though, there are multiple causes of emphysema it is not a surprise to anyone that smoking is its major cause. Taking into consideration the fact that the negative health effects of tobacco were not initially known, I would understand those that contracted the disease prior to the 80’s. However, it is difficult for

As air sacs are destroyed, the lungs are able to transfer less and less oxygen to the bloodstream, causing shortness of breath. The lungs also lose their elasticity, which is important to keep airways open. The patient experiences great difficulty exhaling. Emphysema doesn't develop suddenly, it comes on very gradually.

I have yet to see a benefit from smoking. While it is possible to get emphysema from breathing in environmental or occupational pollutants, smoking seems to be the number one cause. According to mayoclinic.com, there are over 4,000 chemicals found in both first and secondhand tobacco smoke (Emphysema, 2009). Smoke enters into the lungs breaking down the elastic fibers, wreaking havoc on the entire respiratory system, including the alveoli. Sadly, there is no easy cure. The best first step is to stop smoking or exposure to the causing pollutants. Afterwards, treatment is to manage symptoms, and hopefully slow down progression. Those I know with emphysema are treated with supplemental oxygen tanks to increase oxygen flow, steroids to relieve emphysema related bronchitis, and bronchodilators to open the air passageways. In a best, or worst, case scenario for one individual I know is if her emphysema worsens, but overall health maintains, she may qualify for a lung transplant. Like those elastic