The Emphysema Disease

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

The presence of fluid in the alveolar space could potentially cause the lung capacity to be effected as well.

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

Small air sacks called alveoli are at the tips of the bronchioles. When air reaches them, the oxygen concentration is high, which causes diffusion into red blood cells travelling through pulmonary capillaries (7). The red blood cells then distribute the new oxygen to the rest of the body. When they reach the alveoli again, they exchange carbon dioxide (a form of cell waste) for new oxygen, and repeat the process. The carbon dioxide is moved through the bronchioles, bronchi, and trachea in the form of exhalation.

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.

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

Emphysema is a disease of the lungs that consist of the over-inflation of the air sacs, otherwise known as the alveoli. The normal functioning of the alveoli helps in ordinary breathing. Unlike other lung infections this one can be passed on genetically. This disease can affect people of all genders, race and age. Statically, the number of males with emphysema is more numerous than the females by fifty four percent. Nevertheless, in the two years that trailed the difference amongst males and females declined by ten percent. Emphysema is categorized as a C.O.P.D also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Additionally, these groups of alveoli resemble a cluster of grapes. According to Cleveland Clinic, ‘There are about three hundreds million alveoli in normal lungs.’[3] Also, according to The Pulmonary Paper ‘Emphysema frequently occurs in association with chronic bronchitis.’[2] The alveoli are one of those most necessary transfers that is important for connections between the respiratory system and circulatory system, or blood vessels. In Emphysema, the alveoli gradually damages, rupture, and weak the inner wall of alveoli, which make one larger air space rather of many small ones. This will make the surface of the lungs reduces. In turn, the amount of oxygen that the influence of the blood stream will

The alveoli provide a large surface area in the lungs as they are very small, they are highly folded and there are a large amount of them in the lungs. In both the lungs of an adult there are around 300 million alveoli. If the alveoli were to be flattened out the surface area would be around 70 metres squared. The alveoli are well adapted as we require a lot of oxygen to respire at an efficient metabolic rate. This also means that we can transfer carbon dioxide out of our body at an efficient rate so a large amount doesn't stay in our blood as it is very harmful.

Edema will prevent enough oxygen from passing into the bloodstream and throughout the body. Stiffening of the lungs is one of the main things that arise from fluid buildup, also known as low lung compliance. Low lung compliance decreases the lungs’ ability to expand and in turn causes them to have a strong recoiling force. Whether the damage is done directly by a gun shot wound, aspiration, tuberculosis, burns and others. Indirect damage may be caused pneumonia, shock, severe infections and trauma the delicate tissue that separates air from blood in the lungs, the alveolar-capillary membrane becomes extremely leaky and damaged during ARDS. “Injury to this membrane allows fluid to spill into the lung, thus hindering or preventing gas exchange (Bernard, Artigas, Brigham, Carlet, Falke, Hudson, Lamy, Legall, Morris, Spragg 1994, p. 818)”. ARDS can also cause the alveolar-capillary membrane’s thickness to increase significantly. This is another factor that affects the ability for gas

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

Emphysema Emphysema is a condition in which there is over-inflation of structures in the lungs known as alveoli or air sacs. This over-inflation results from a breakdown of the walls of the alveoli, which causes a decrease in respiratory function (the way the lungs work) and often, breathlessness. Early symptoms of emphysema include shortness of breath and cough. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis together comprise chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The simple act of breathing is often taken for granted. As an automated function sustaining life, most of us do not have to think about the act of breathing. However, for many others, respiratory diseases make this simple act thought consuming. Emphysema is one such disease taking away the ease, but instead inflicting labored breathing and a hope for a cure.