MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Emphysema

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Emphysema

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Definition Causes, incidence, and risk factors Symptoms Signs and tests Treatment	Support Groups Expectations (prognosis) Complications Calling your health care provider Prevention

Illustrations

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder)

Smoking and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder)

Respiratory system

Definition Return to top

Emphysema is a lung disease that involves damage to the air sacs (alveoli). The air sacs are unable to completely deflate (hyperinflation) and are therefore unable to fill with fresh air to ensure adequate oxygen supply to the body.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of emphysema. Tobacco smoke and other pollutants are thought to cause the release of chemicals from within the lungs that damage the walls of the air sacs. This damage becomes worse over time, affecting the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs.

A naturally occurring substance in the lungs called alpha-1 antitrypsin may protect against this damage. People with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency are at an increased risk for this disease.

Symptoms Return to top

Shortness of breath
Chronic cough with or without sputum production
Wheezing

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease include the following:

Signs and tests Return to top

A physical examination may show decreased breath sounds, wheezing, and/or prolonged exhalation (exhalation takes more than twice as long as inspiration). There may be an increased front-to-back diameter of the chest, resemmbling a barrel shape. There may be signs of chronically insufficient oxygen levels in the blood.

These tests help confirm the diagnosis:

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

Arterial blood gases showing reduced oxygen
Pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scan
Chest CT scan

Treatment Return to top

Smoking cessation is the most important and effective treatment. Only quitting smoking can stop the progression of lung damage once it has started. Medications used to improve breathing include bronchodilators (hand-held inhaler or nebulizer), diuretics, and corticosteroids. Antibiotics may be prescribed when respiratory infections occur. Influenza (flu) vaccines and Pneumovax (pneumonia vaccine) are recommended for people with emphysema.

Low-flow oxygen can be used during exertion, continuously, or at night. Pulmonary rehabilitation can improve exercise tolerance and quality of life in the short-term. Lung transplantation is an option for patients with severe disease.

Carefully selected patients may be eligible for lung reduction surgery. This procedure removes the damaged portions of the lung, which allows the normal portions of the lung to expand more fully and take advantage of increased aeration. When successful, those who undergo the surgery report improvement in walking distance and quality of life.

Support Groups Return to top

Contact the American Lung Association for a support group near you.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

The outcome is better for patients with less damage to the lung. However, patients with extensive lung damage may live for many years so predicting prognosis is difficult. Death may occur from respiratory failure, pneumonia, or other complications.

Complications Return to top

Recurrent respiratory infections
Pulmonary hypertension
Cor pulmonale (enlargement and strain on the right side of the heart)
Erythrocytosis (increased blood count)
Death

Calling your health care provider Return to top

Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of emphysema.

If you know you have emphysema, call your health care provider if breathing difficulty, cough, sputum production or fever develops or changes.

Prevention Return to top

Avoiding smoking -- or quitting if you do smoke -- can greatly decrease risk for this disease.

Update Date: 1/16/2004

Updated by: Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, Ma., and Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M., Inc. Previously reviewed by David A. Kaufman, M.D., Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (5/5/2003).

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