Recognizing the Early Signs of Emphysema

Emphysema is a serious lung condition most commonly caused by smoking. In people with emphysema, the air sacs in the lungs (alveoli) are damaged. The air sacs in the lungs become damaged and stretched. This results in a chronic cough and difficulty breathing.

We’ve created this guide to help you recognize the early signs of emphysema, so you can get help as soon as possible.

What is emphysema?

Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It involves the loss of elasticity and enlargement of the air sacs in the lung making them irreversibly damaged.

Fast facts on emphysema

What are the early signs of emphysema?

Many people don’t notice symptoms until their lungs are significantly damaged. Catching emphysema early is the key to stopping the disease for further progression.

Key symptoms of emphysema are shortness of breath and a chronic cough which appear in the early stages. You may notice it during or after physical activity. But as the disease progresses, it can start to happen during rest too.

If you are or were a smoker and have any of these early signs, it is highly advised to make an appointment with pulmonologist. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential in slowing the progress of this degenerative disease.

As the disease progresses, you may also notice these other early signs of emphysema:

• Lot of mucus
• Wheezing
• Reduced appetite and weight loss
• Fatigue
• Frequent lung infections
• Sleep problems
• Morning headaches due to lack of oxygen, due to difficulty in breathing at night

Diagnosis and Treatment of Emphysema

Depending on your symptoms your pulmonologist may order a few diagnostic tests such as:

• Chest X-ray
• Bronchoscopy
• Thoracentesis to drain fluid in the lung
• Spirometry test to measure air inhaled and exhaled
• Peak flow test to measure lung capacity
• Cardiopulmonary stress test to evaluate heart and lung function

Generally, treatment of emphysema begins with stopping smoking. It also includes prescription oxygen or medications to help you breathe. In certain sever case of emphysema, you may need surgery to reduce lung volume or carry out a lung transplantation. Lung volume reduction surgery removes small wedges of the damaged, emphysematous, lung tissue

To know more about emphysema or to get diagnosed or get treatments, book your appointment with Swastik – Lungs Care & Allergy Clinic.