What is pulmonary emphysema?
Emphysema is a chronic lung condition in which the air sacs (alveoli) may be:
- Collapsed
- Destroyed
- Narrowed
- Overinflated
- Stretched
Overinflation of the air sacs is a result of breakdown of the walls of the alveoli. It causes a decrease in respiratory function and breathlessness. Damage to the air sacs is irreversible. It results in permanent holes in the tissues of the lower lungs.
Pulmonary emphysema is part of a group of lung diseases called COPD. COPD lung diseases cause airflow blockage and breathing problems. The two most common conditions of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
What are the symptoms of pulmonary emphysema?
Symptoms may be slightly different for each person. The following are the most common symptoms for pulmonary emphysema.
Early symptoms of pulmonary emphysema may include:
- Cough
- Rapid breathing
- Shortness of breath, which gets worse with activity
- Sputum production
- Wheezing
Other symptoms may include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Heart problems
- Over-inflation of the lungs
- Sleep problems
- Weight loss
The symptoms of pulmonary emphysema may look like other lung conditions or health problems. See a healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
How is pulmonary emphysema diagnosed?
Along with a complete medical history and physical exam, your healthcare provider may request pulmonary function tests. These tests help measure the lungs’ ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. The tests are usually done with special machines into which you breathe. They may include:
Spirometry
A spirometer is a device used to check lung function. Spirometry is one of the simplest, most common tests. It may be used to:
- Determine the severity of a lung disease
- Find out whether the lung disease is restrictive (decreased airflow) or obstructive (disruption of airflow)
- Look for lung disease
- See how well treatment is working
Peak flow monitoring
This device measures how fast you can blow air out of your lungs. Cough, inflammation, and mucus buildup can cause the large airways in the lungs to slowly narrow. This slows the speed of air leaving the lungs. This measurement is very important in seeing how well or how poorly the disease is being controlled.
Blood tests
These are done to check the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood.
Chest X-ray
This test takes pictures of internal tissues, bones, and organs.
CT scan
This test uses a combination of X-rays and computer technology to produce horizontal, or axial, images (often called slices) of the body. CT can show details like the width of airways in the lungs and the thickness of airway walls.
Sputum culture
This test is done on the material that is coughed up from the lungs and into the mouth. A sputum culture is often used to see if an infection is present.
ECG
This is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart, shows abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias), and can help find heart muscle damage.
How is pulmonary emphysema treated?
The goal of treatment for people with pulmonary emphysema is to live more comfortably with the disease, control symptoms, and prevent the disease from getting worse, with minimal side effects. There is no way to repair or regrow the damaged lung tissue.
Treatment may include:
- A pulmonary rehab program may include breathing exercises to strengthen the muscles you use for breathing, as well as exercises to condition the rest of your body
- Antibiotics for bacterial infections
- Avoiding the smoke of others and removing other air pollutants from your home and workplace
- Bronchodilators, which can be either oral or inhaled
- Getting the flu and pneumococcal vaccines
- Lung transplant
- Nutritional support since you may develop malnutrition and lose weight
- Other types of oral and inhaled medicines that used to treat symptoms like coughing and wheezing
- Oxygen therapy from portable containers
- Quitting smoking
- Surgery to remove the damaged area of the lung