
Suggest Treatment For Difficulty In Breathing Due To Emphysema

You could be having both asthma and emphysema.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Dear,
I have gone through your query and it is apparent that you are greatly troubled with your symptoms and are confused regarding the correct diagnosis.
I would like to tell you that you could be having both the conditions. Asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis are three conditions which are categorized as obstructive lung diseases. A person may suffer from either but very often there is an overlap and and a person may have two of the three conditions and at times even all three together.
All these conditions have same symptoms of cough and breathlessness except that in asthma there is reversibility of symptoms with inhalers esp in the early stages of diseases where as in other two conditions, reversibility is not significant. Treatment is more or less same in all these conditions esp early in diseases.
You could be having emphysema from the beginning which is progressive in nature and has worsened now. The worsening may have been hastened because of your smoking.
Beside PFT, a CT Chest will help in establishing the diagnosis of emphysema.
Albuterol inhaler will give you only symptomatic relief for a short period. To control the symptoms, you have to use inhalers having combination of inhaled corticosteroids and long acting beta agonists. Some of the commom ones are seroflo, formeterol or seretide accuhaler. You may check the local brand from your pharmacist. Another inhaler having tiatropium should also be used.
At times you may have to use short courses of oral steroids to achieve control over symptoms and then it is maintained on inhalers as above.
First and foermost step in the treatment is complete cessation of smoking which you should do straight away if you do not want any further deterioration in your condition.
I suggest, you consult a local pulmonologist for correct advice, medicines, dosages and technique of taking inhalers.
Take care.


It may not be indicated in your case.
Detailed Answer:
Bronchial thermoplasty is a new modality of asthma treatment offered to patients having severe persistent asthma. I do not think you fit in that category. Besides, your diagnosis may not be pure asthma. It may be emphysema. Enough literature is not available if bronchial thermoplasty is indicated in emphysema.
I do not have much experience with this modality and I suggest you consult a pulmonologist with experience in this field.

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