Emphysema essays

Emphysema essays Emphysema or COPD, chronic obstruction pulmonary disease, is the destruction of the alveoli in the lungs where the gas transfer takes place. The bronchioles distribute the air throughout the lung to the individual alveoli. Once damaged, the bronchioles tend to collapse, trapping stale air in the isolated sacs and no longer transmitting fresh air. As the alveoli are destroyed, more and more air is required to provide a sufficient amount of oxygen. This need for more air eventually leads to lung overinflation. The lungs gradually enlarge, completely filling the chest cavity and causing a sense of shortness of breath, one of the most common symptoms. The other most common symptom is coughing. Other symptoms may include insomnia, weight loss, memory loss, morning headaches, blurred vision, chronic fatigue, impaired concentration, and swelling of feet and ankles. More than 80% of all emphysema is directly related to smoking. Tars, smoke, and toxic chemicals added by tobacco compa nies, combine to block the production of apha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), leading to the destruction of the elastic fibers of the alveoli. There is also a genetic form of emphysema not related to smoking. It is due to an AAT defiency that leads to A1AP-related emphysema. The liver produces insufficient AAT to control an enzyme known as neutrophil-elastase. Though this enzyme plays an important role in fighting bacteria and cleaning up dead lung tissue, it eventually causes irreversible damage to the alveoli by damaging their elastic fibers. Diagnosis may involve a chest x-ray or a series of other respiratory tests. Sometimes the doctor may tap on the chest while listening with a stethoscope; it will result in a hollow sound because of the destroyed alveoli. The goal of treatment is to provide relief of symptoms and prevent progression. Advice from the doctor may include, quitting smoking, bronchodilator drugs which relax and open air passages in ...