What is a likely outcome for people with emphysema?
605592
Emphysema is the loss of the lungs recoil.  When you breath in your alveoli (air sacs) expand to get in as much air as possible.  When you exhale, the alveoli contract and squeeze the old air out.  With emphysema the alveloi loose the elasticity and fully expand, but don't fully contract and often become fragile and not fully functioning.  They can't utilize the oxygen they breath in and usually need supplemental oxygen.\n\nI often tell people we are all going to die.  Some peacefully and others painfully.  If the person hasn't quit the smoking habit (I don't know the person I just going off on the majority of people with emphysema smoke) then the possibility of living into the senior years before dying is quite high.  But, if they refuse to quit, then their lives will be short and painful.  Will there be a time when they will be dependent on oxygen, definitely.  But it is key to stop the reason for the injury
813166
Pretty scarey stuff. \n\nI had never heard of COPD when the pulmonologist said I had it. I also was diagnosed with the asthma. According to all the info I could find, COPD was either emphysema or chronic bronchitis. The pulmonologist assured me I had asthma COPD. Then I tried to find information on the life expectancy; all I could find was that it's the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. and did, indeed, sound as though my time left was seriously short. After a lot of exploration and talking with others having COPD, I determined that everyone is different. Johnny Carson died of emphysema at 85. He had had it for at least the past 20-30 years.\n\nI was diagnosed three years ago and the doctor suggested from my history of pneumonia, colds, etc, that I had had this condition for many years. In 1996 I had to have a company physical and flunked the spirometry test. I was told that people often have the condition for years before it is properly diagnosed. As HMOs are prone to do, they determined a specialist was unnecessary and the family practitioner prescribed inhalers, steroids, asthma medication, etc. for every incident of flareups. \n\nI would have told you three years ago my time was very limited. Would have bet no more than a year or so. Actually, now that my medication has been adjusted to necessary levels, I feel better than I have in years. I went from oxygen 24/7 to now only when I sleep and exercise. I go to the healthplex and use the treadmill and pool often. I amaze myself at how much I have improved with a little exercise. \n\nMy doctor does recommend I keep my pnuemonia and flu shots up to date and steer clear of anyone with a cold to lessen the chance of exacerbation. The asthma medication can have a side effect of depression, so be alert to that. We especially don't need to slump into a depression. I do take an anti-depressant because finding out I had the condition really hit me hard and coupled with the medication, well, I need it. Attitude is a big determinant in COPD's severity on a person.\n\nAbsolutely no one can tell you how much time you have left whether because of COPD or anything else. You're not going to be doing any more mountain climbing or run the Boston Marathon, but it is so important to live each day to the fullest.  There's still plenty you can do, and you will probably live a long, productive life as long as you aren't your own worst enemy and just give up.
688880
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency: Some people have emphsyema because of a rare genetic disorder called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency. People with Alpha-1 are missing an enzyme that protects their lungs. Some people with Alpha-1 deficiency get emphysema without ever having smoked. Other people get emphsyema from the combination of smoking and having Alpha-1 deficiency. Be sure and ask your doc for the test - there is treatment if you have the deficiency. \nWarm regards,\nCarol
1030225
People with diabetes, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis are at increased risk of death when they are exposed to particulate air pollution, or soot, for one or more years, according to a study to be presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference on May 22nd. \n\nThe study looked at hospital discharges for people with these four types of diseases living in 34 cities between 1985 and 1999. The researchers compared this information with 12-month averages of PM10, a type of particulate matter air pollution that includes particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less than 0.0004 inches or one-seventh the width of a human hair. \n\nThe study found that for an increase of 10 micrograms/per cubic meter of PM10 over two years, the risk of dying was increased by: \n\n32% for people with diabetes \n28% for people with COPD \n27% in people with congestive heart failure \n22% for people with inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus \n"The study significantly strengthens evidence that breathing in particulate matter is associated with dying sooner," said researcher Joel Schwartz, Ph.D., Professor of Environmental Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. \n\n"While previous studies have found that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with increased risk of death, we looked at risk of death in the first three years after patients were discharged from the hospital, and saw that the risk increased in the first couple of years. That means if we can lower air pollution levels, people will start living longer right away--we don't have to wait many years to see health improvements. That wasn't clear from previous air pollution studies." \n\nTechnology that can reduce particulate matter levels already exists, Dr. Schwartz noted. "For instance, we know how to put scrubbers on coal-burning power plants, which are a major source of particulate matter. There is no safe level of particulate air pollution, so we need to get the levels as low as reasonably possible." \n\nWhile previous studies have linked exposure to PM10 to harmful effects on breathing and respiratory systems, damage to lung tissue, cancer, and premature death, this is the first study to follow people with specific diseases to determine their risk of death in response to particle exposure, Dr. Schwartz said. \n\nHe noted an important difference between this new study and past air pollution studies. "Past studies have compared average air pollution conditions in one city to other cities, and you need to worry about potential confounders, or other factors that could affect the differences between the cities," he said. "In this study, we looked at air pollution and deaths within each city--we didn't compare across cities, so we didn't need to worry about confounding factors." \n\nThe study helps validate the findings of previous studies that have shown that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with shortened survival in the general population, said Dr. Schwartz, a co-author of the Six Cities Study, which evaluated the effects of pollution on adults in the 1970s and 1980s. The results of that study found a strong, positive correlation between levels of air pollution and mortality. The study led to a revision of existing air quality standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. An eight-year follow up study found an association between people living longer and cities reducing the amount of fine particulate matter in their air. That study was published in the March 15, 2006 issue of the American Thoracic Society journal, The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
1119748
Everyone is right, it is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, a catch all for emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma.\n\nIt is serious but not necessarily a death sentence. While it can be treated, it cannot be cured. With good medical care and monitoring ..it is possible to slow the progression of the disease.\n\nI don't know if it can be controlled with natural remedies. I, myself, am on Prednisone, Spiriva, Advair 250/50 and Xopenex via nebulizer 4 times a day as needed.\nI would be afraid to try any natural remedies because of the seriousness of COPD.\n\nYour Pulmonologist or Dr probably needs to do a Pulmonary Function test. Mine revealed a 58% lung capacity. Except for alot of shortness of breath..I still hold down a full time job--it is :however, a sit down job. There is some housework I cannot do and there are times...when just getting ready for work tires me out and leaves me breathless.\n\nYou will also notice that any respiratory virus that goes around will inevitably find it's way to you and go straight down into your chest...so if it is possible....avoid those who are sick.\n\nMost importantly---listen to your body. If you are short of breath..it is saying slow down and take it easy... Learn Pursed Lip breathing and get to the Dr at the first sign of a respiratory bug...there is nothing worse than ending up in the hospital with pneumonia or an exacerbation of COPD.\n\n~~Good Luck~~\n\nHere is a link to COPD International.\nYou might want to check the msg boards here, you can learn alot.\n\nhttp://www.copd-international.com/
25453
well, it depends if you had replaced smoking with eating, or chewing gum, then yes ,coz you are inhaling air when you eat or chew a lot, so what goes in must come out so to speak.
705363
There are problems that can crop up.  The biggest would be food or drink going down the wrong way.  Usually pain full and distressing but only rarely serious as the bodies natural defences tend to stop it quickly.\n\nThe biggest risk is probably from inhaling saliva especially if it is contaminated with gastric juice.   This can cause inhalation pneumonia but it is highly unlikely and if it did happen is likely to be mild.  Recommend that you avoid alcohol, or spicy food in the evening. \n\nTwo important things.  Firsts is common sense - if in any doubt about contamination of the bronchial tubes or lungs seek advice.\n\nSecondly - keep swallowing.  Repeated use of the muscles will strengthen them and may well act to restore more feeling and mobility.\n\nGood luck.
921504
Wish I could help. But am not sure on how much longer she can live. Sounds pretty bad though. Pneaumonia with emphysema is very dangerous. Each ALONE is dangerous. I wish I could help you. Hope for her to get to doing better soon.
123426
(Cutting and pasting an entire Wikipedia article is just plain lazy.)\n\nThe answer to your question is: No, there is no cure for emphysema, but it is possible to slow down the disease and make it easier to live with the symptoms.\n\nYou can find some information here http://www.lung.ca/diseases/emphysema.html or but entering the word in any search engine.
1184312
You could have asthma or emphyzema and i recommend you get your doctor to give you a check up
186549
Life expectancy depends on the individual. They have to be willing to do the things they are told to. Otherwise they will not live long, 3 - 5 years maximum.\n\nAlthough not a cure, there is a newer surgery that can increase lung capacity and help bring greater quality of life to the individual. You have to be a good candidate and that will mean not smoking, following a good diet and exercise routine, as well as following a doctor's instructions regarding medication, etc.\n\nRead the data at the links below for more.\n\nGood Luck to whoever has this.
920826
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a general term for a group of diseases that cause progressive damage to your lungs. These diseases include chronic bronchitis, asthma and emphysema. Of the more than 16 million Americans with COPD, nearly 3 million have symptomatic emphysema and millions more are in the early stages of the disease before signs and symptoms appear.\n\nUnlike asthma, which occurs when the muscles in your airways tighten, emphysema causes a loss of elasticity in the walls of the small air sacs in your lungs. Eventually, the walls stretch and break, creating larger, less efficient air sacs that aren't able to handle the normal exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.\n\nWhen emphysema is advanced, you must work so hard to expel air from your lungs that breathing can consume up to 20 percent of your resting energy. Unfortunately, because emphysema develops gradually over many years, you may not experience symptoms such as shortness of breath until irreversible damage has already occurred. Treatments focus on relieving symptoms and avoiding complications.\n\nreduced capacity for physical activity, both of which are likely to become worse as the disease progresses. In time, you may have trouble breathing even when lying down, and it may be especially hard to breathe during and after respiratory infections, such as colds or the flu.\n\nOther signs and symptoms of emphysema include:\n\nChronic, mild cough. You may produce sputum or phlegm when you cough. \nLoss of appetite and weight loss. It's a vicious cycle. Emphysema can make eating more difficult, and the act of eating can rob you of your breath. The result is that you simply may not feel like eating much of the time. \nFatigue. You're likely to feel tired both because it's more difficult to breathe and because your body is getting less oxygenWhen you inhale, air travels to your lungs through two major airways called bronchi. Inside your lungs, the bronchi subdivide like the roots of a tree into a million smaller airways (bronchioles) that finally end in clusters of tiny air sacs (alveoli). You have about 300 million air sacs in each lung. Within the walls of the air sacs are tiny blood vessels (capillaries) where oxygen is added to your blood and carbon dioxide — a waste product of metabolism — is removed. The air sac walls also contain elastic fibers that help them expand and contract like small balloons when you breathe.\n\nWhat happens in emphysema\nIn emphysema, inflammation destroys these fragile walls of the air sacs, causing them to lose their elasticity. As a result, the bronchioles collapse, and air becomes trapped in the air sacs, which overstretches them and interferes with your ability to exhale (hyperinflation).\n\nIn time, this overstretching may cause several air sacs to rupture, forming one larger air space instead of many small ones. Because the larger, less-elastic sacs aren't able to force air completely out of your lungs when you exhale, you have to breathe harder to take in enough oxygen and to eliminate carbon dioxide.\n\nThe process works something like this: Normally, you exhale in two ways, actively and passively. When you exert yourself and need more oxygen, your chest muscles contract, forcing air out rapidly. On the other hand, when you sit quietly, your diaphragm contracts and your chest muscles expand to take air in, but your muscles don't actively contract to let the air out. Instead, the elastic tissue around your air sacs contracts, and your lungs passively shrink.\n\nBut if you have emphysema, many of these elastic fibers have been destroyed, and you must consciously force air out of your lungs. The forced exhalation compresses many of your small airways, making expelling air even more difficult.\n\nMost common cause is smoking\nCigarette smoke is by far the most common cause of emphysema. The damage begins when tobacco smoke temporarily paralyzes the microscopic hairs (cilia) that line you
889289
You may think you have the right to inflict your filth on others, believe me you don't. I'm still going to end up paying for all the medical care that your going to need when you are dying from cancer or emphysema. The sad thing is you are going to be more miserable than you are already.
196475
Many years ago my grandmother, who lived in Chicago IL and had emphysema moved to El Paso TX and it really did help her. She was able to enjoy the last 10 years of her life not grasping for every breath.
190285
The answer is NO!!!!!  You are playing with wild fire.  Smoking is only going to make your asthma symptoms worse and eventually you may end up with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD).  This means you will end of needing oxygen everywhere you go, depending on inhalers and breathing machines to keep you going and will be gasping for breath until the end of your life.  It is a nasty way to die.  By smoking you are playing Russian Roulette with your life.  Is it worth it to continue smoking????  My answer is NO!!!  Talk to your doctor and get the patch to help you quit smoking.  Also, stay away from 2nd hand smoke too for your lungs life.
1048979
I would need to know what you are already using.  There are several inhalers and nebulizer meds & oral meds that work singularly and in combination to enhance better air exchange.  In saying this, your physician knows you best, knows your lungs, your heart, your weight/nutrition....\n\nA person can live for many years even with advanced emphysema.  It depends on many things including the over all condition of the person, nutrition, environment, ability to exercise on some level, emotional strength...etc.  \n\nIf you are not involved in an exercise class, see if your hospital can recommend one specifically for people with chronic lung disease.  Building up your accessory muscles may go a long way to enhancing better gas exchange in your lungs.  Good nutrition is a must....small, frequent NUTRITIOUS food/meals.  \nYou need to keep yourself from getting respiratory illnesses, so be selfish about keeping your environment safe.....WASH your hands before eating, after shaking hands with others, handling money etc.  If you get sick...GET to your physician PRONTO.  \nI wish I had magic answers for you, but I don't.  Your daily routines should be done to maintain and enhance your quality of life....much of this will come from common sense, good medical care and compliance.....and a great attitude for life and living.
800548
The side effects are that of hyperventilation for most people. Above normal oxigen levels is toxic to the body. If only mildly over oxygenating, it's helping the injury/illness for the pre-hospital setting more than it's hurting the body.\n\nI've seen new EMT's give oxygen to a hyperventilation patient thinking that the patients complaint that they "couldn't breath" was the indication to give oxygen.  This causes various symptoms such as numbness or tingling in the hands, feet and lips, lightheadedness, dizziness, headache, chest pain, slurred speech and sometimes fainting.\n\nOxygen therapy must be prescribed with caution in COPD. In healthy people, breathing is triggered by rising levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. However, in people with severe COPD, breathing may become controlled by an alternative system in which breathing is triggered by falling levels of oxygen in the blood. In this case, inhaling oxygen will tend to shut down breathing, with dangerous consequences.