Emphysema, a chronic irreversible lung disease that gradually destroys the lungs, is the most common cause of death from respiratory disease in the United States. Emphysema is primarily caused by cigarette smoking; over 82% of all cases are developed from heavy cigarette smoking. The prognosis for emphysema patients is very poor because Emphysema is a serious and chronic disease that cannot be reversed (2). It cannot be cured, although, the progression of the disease can be significantly slowed down with proper medical intervention and education. By learning what Emphysema is, the causes of Emphysema, and treatment procedures used to treat Emphysema, everybody can help prevent themselves from getting the chronic life-long disease, Emphysema.
Emphysema is a chronic lung condition in which the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs become over stretched, destroying the elasticity of fibers that open and close the air sacs during breathing (8). The surface area of air sacs is for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide becomes smaller from the sacs being less elastic and this is what affects the ability to breathe out carbon dioxide after breathing it in (3). This is where oxygen (air) is exchanged for carbon dioxide (in the blood). The walls or air sacs in the lungs are very fragile. The damage to the air sacs is irreversible. Eventually Emphysema will make permanent holes in the tissues of the lower lungs. It is a degenerative disease that usually develops after many years of assault on lung tissue (5). The small airways (bronchioles) that join alveoli are damaged as the walls loose elasticity (6). All this together causes a decrease in respiratory functioning and brings on breathlessness (15). The purpose of the!.
lungs is to supply oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the body (17). Our lungs support our lives by removing carbon dioxide from our blood and replacing it with oxygen (21).