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What Causes Emphysema?
Question: Hi my name is XXXX.XXXX and ill reask a question that got answered but I didn't see the answer bleaecause I got a refund because they misunderstood my email at the customer care. my doctor told me I have the start of emphysema due to viewing exray. the the radiologist report came back "normal", "nothing to worry about", "start of emphyema". my doctor and nurse insisted that if I quit now, I don't have to die from it. Ive always heard otherwise. that once it starts it gets worse and kills you. what is right? please help.
Brief Answer:
Emphysema is a progressive lung condition.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concern.
Emphysema is a lung condition in which tiny air sacs in the lungs - alveoli - fill up with air. As the air continues to build up in these sacs, they expand, and may break or become damaged and form scar tissue.
The patient becomes progressively short of breath. Emphysema is a type of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
The main cause of emphysema is long-term regular smoking.
Cigarette smoke contributes to this disease process in two ways :
-It destroys lung tissue, which is the cause of the obstruction, and
- it causes inflammation and irritation of airways that can cause the disease to get worse.
What you are saying is that your doctor told you have emphysema in it's initial faze caused by cigarette smoking.
Emphysema is not curable and the condition cannot be reversed,what means that the damage done in your lungs can not be reverted (what is done is done).
It is very important to prevent further damage of lungs and this is achieved by avoiding risk factors that cause lung damage.
The first and urgent thing you should do is STOP SMOKING immediately.
Stopping smoking may halt the progression of the disease and improve the function of the lungs.
Since the emphysema is in it initial faze,if you stop smoking now you have good chances to prevent the progression of this condition to a serious lung damage.
Hope my answer has helped.
Let me know if you have any other question.
Wish you all the best.
Regards.
Dr.Rovena Murati
Emphysema is a progressive lung condition.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concern.
Emphysema is a lung condition in which tiny air sacs in the lungs - alveoli - fill up with air. As the air continues to build up in these sacs, they expand, and may break or become damaged and form scar tissue.
The patient becomes progressively short of breath. Emphysema is a type of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
The main cause of emphysema is long-term regular smoking.
Cigarette smoke contributes to this disease process in two ways :
-It destroys lung tissue, which is the cause of the obstruction, and
- it causes inflammation and irritation of airways that can cause the disease to get worse.
What you are saying is that your doctor told you have emphysema in it's initial faze caused by cigarette smoking.
Emphysema is not curable and the condition cannot be reversed,what means that the damage done in your lungs can not be reverted (what is done is done).
It is very important to prevent further damage of lungs and this is achieved by avoiding risk factors that cause lung damage.
The first and urgent thing you should do is STOP SMOKING immediately.
Stopping smoking may halt the progression of the disease and improve the function of the lungs.
Since the emphysema is in it initial faze,if you stop smoking now you have good chances to prevent the progression of this condition to a serious lung damage.
Hope my answer has helped.
Let me know if you have any other question.
Wish you all the best.
Regards.
Dr.Rovena Murati
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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