Emphysema is a devastating lung disease that affects millions of people. The number was over 4 million people all the way back in 2011. The condition occurs in many people who are over 45 years of age. The causes vary from rare hereditary situations to smoking and environmental contamination. Drug use, immune system problems and connective tissue problem can cause the disease to occur, as well. Doctors usually diagnose emphysema with a mixture of chest X-rays, lab tests and pulmonary tests such as peak flow monitoring.
What emphysema does specifically is it causes the air sacs to inflate excessively. The scientific name for the air sacs is the alveoli. The alveoli eventually become so inflamed that they lose their normal elasticity. That causes a heap of problems for the sufferer, up to and including a rupture or a complete lung collapse. The violent coughing that occurs when someone has emphysema is one the There are four stages of emphysema that a person may experience before getting to a life-threatening situation. The body will show a wide variety of symptoms depending on which stage the person who has the disorder is in. The following are some of the many signs and symptoms that a person may experience during the various stages of emphysema.
1. Frequent Lung Infection
One common symptom of people who have the emphysema disease is a frequent lung infection. An individual may find that he or she gets bronchitis or some other type of infection several times a year instead of just once every few years. The individual may also feel malaise or fatigue a majority of the time because of the emphysema. Furthermore, the lung infections may seem to have super-slow healing processes. One infection may take several months to subside, for example. Those are signs that a person is not healthy, and that person has to get to the root of the problem.
2. Excess Mucus
The excessive coughing is the next most common sign that someone has emphysema. The coughing may happen first thing in the morning and every time the person overexerts himself or herself. The coughing may happen when the affected person laughs or does any strenuous activity. Sometimes, it may seem as if it happens all time.
Excessive mucous usually comes up when a person has emphysema, too. The coughing produces it as the lungs constantly try to cleanse themselves and unrestrict the air. It’s almost painful to hear someone with emphysema struggle with the coughing because it sounds excruciating. It seems like the more the person coughs, the more people can learn how to build a family of the foundation.
3. Wheezing
Wheezing may occur in people who have emphysema because of the obstructions to the lungs. It’s a sound that almost sounds like whistle whenever the person breathes in and out. “It comes from the inflammation of the airways, and it is also common in people who have asthma. It is possible to quiet down wheezing with medications like bronchodilators. They expadn the airways a little bit more. The individual could also try to get as much rest as possible and not overexert himself or herself. So there are drills That will calm the breathing down and create less of a noisy venture.
4. Reduced Appetite And Weight Loss
Reduced appetite and weight loss may occur when someone is suffering from emphysema. The reason for the reduced appetite is the general feeling of illness an wellness that the person has. It can also occur because the sufferer is trying to preserve breathing strength. Sometimes fighting for air is extremely difficult, and the person will want to preserve every bit of strength that he has, so he won’t eat. The medications that the individual may be taking could cause a shift in thought processes and bodily processes that leave the person unable to eat, too. Failure to eat will cause a drastic weight loss.
5. Fatigue
Fatigue, or excessive tiredness, is one of those symptoms that is in just about every illness. It may be more prevalent in emphysema, however, because of the lack of appropriate airflow. Not getting enough oxygen is enough to cause extremely tired. The body has to work 10 times harder just to do simple things like walking across a room. The fatigue may also come from a loss of a zest for life. It may be mild fatigue, or it may be so crippling that it prevents the individual from doing hardly any activities. vitamins, minerals and hydration can help someone who is in a fatigued physical state.
6. Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression are conditions that may occur as a result of the effect that the shortage of air has on the brain. Anxiety is an overwhelming sense of fear about a real or perceived danger. It’s marked by compulsive thoughts and extreme nervousness. Depression is an abnormal feeling of despair that can sometimes be severe enough to cause suicidal thoughts. These symptoms may happen because the person is dependent on family members. He or she may experience worthless feelings because of that. Normal changes may cause the person to be depressed, as well.
7. Sleep Problems
Sleeping problems can help to a person with emphysema too. Sleep problems can go both ways. The person may sleep too much because of the ill feeling or the lack of oxygen that he has to experience. On the other end of the spectrum, the person could be one of those people who never sleep. The struggle for air may be so bad that the person can’t get comfortable. The individual may be stressing about paying the bills or trying to fight to stay alive. There are many reasons that the individual may have an insomnia problem, but it’s very common.
8. Morning Headaches
Morning headaches are common in people who have emphysema. They come from the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the body, and they can be very painful. Usually, they are dull and they throb, as well. some things such as bronchodilators can help to open the airway sup just a little bit to alleviate some of the struggles. Changing one’s diet and getting into an exercise program can help too.
Anyone who exhibits any of the symptoms as mentioned above will need to be evaluated to see if he or she is suffering from emphysema. A medical specialist will be able to run a series of tests and see if anything shows up in the radiologist’s images that would indicate damage to the lungs. The breathing tests will show how much air the individual is getting in. Treatment can begin once specialists have given a definitive diagnosis to the one who is suffering from emphysema.
