Emphysema
Emphysema is a degenerative disease that usually develops after many years of smoking or exposure to air pollution. The disease is characterized by the destruction, or breakdown, of the walls of the alveoli (air sacs) located at the end of the bronchial tubes. The damaged alveoli are not able to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the blood. The bronchioles lose their elasticity and collapse when the person exhales, trapping air in the lungs. The trapped air prevents fresh air and oxygen from entering the lungs. As a result, a person with emphysema feels chronically short of breath.
Clemenceau Medical Center offers a spectrum of latest and state of the art diagnostic tools and tests for the assessment of Emphysema, including: Chest CTScan and x-ray, complete lung function testing, arterial blood gas testing, and pulse oximetry testing.
The most important step in controlling emphysema is to stop smoking, avoid second-hand smoking and other airway irritants. The following treatments and lifestyle changes may be recommended by your doctor:
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Supplemental oxygen
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Avoiding smoke and other irritants
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Following a healthy diet
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Exercising regularly
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Flu and pneumonia vaccines to prevent respiratory infections
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Specific medications such as inhalers and antibiotics