Question 1

what does it feel like being in advanced stages of emphysema?

Accepted Answer

Under water: One of my patients once described emphysema as being similar to being underwater and not being able to come up for air - probably very accurate.

Question 2

what is lupus emphysema? and can lupus  have systums that look like emphysema

Accepted Answer

May be confusion?: Lupus can affect the respiratory system in a variety of ways, but I am not clear what is meant by this phrase "lupus emphysema" and suspect that there may be a misunderstanding here. Lupus can be associated with inflammatory reactions of the lung tissue or lining of the lung, lung scarring ("fibrosis"), or diaphragm. A consultation with a pulmonologist (lung specialist) may be needed to clarify.

Question 3

what is emphysema ?

Accepted Answer

COPD: It is a chronic-obstructive-pulmonary disease (COPD) defined pathologically as: abnormal and permanent enlargement of air spaces in your lungs (not the airways), and destructions of structures called a aveolar walls without fibrosis (scarring).
There is much information about this diease and so if you are curious, go to national lung, heart, blood institute (nhlbi.Nih.Gov) to learn...
Good luck.

Question 4

is emphysema inherited?

Accepted Answer

Could be rarely: Most commonly it is from smoking. But some people have Alpha 1 antitruson deficiency they can get  emphysema  still smoking plays a major role.

Question 5

can emphysema be cured?

Accepted Answer

No: Emphysema is, by definition, a disease characterized by irreversible damage to the lungs.  However, there are all degrees of emphysema and the goal of therapy is to ameliorate symptoms, treat complications,  and prevent or slow progression.

Question 6

consequences of emphysema ?

Accepted Answer

Emphysema : Depends on severity and ongoing exposure to irritants (smoking/ second hand smoke/occupational exposures/etc). Chronic and progressive disease which results in shortness of breath, decline in oxygen saturation, decreased exercise tolerance, frequent exacerbations/ respiratory infections, and wasting syndrome.

Question 7

what is done for  emphysema?

Accepted Answer

Smoking Cessation: The most important thing is to stop the cause, which in the vast majority of cases is smoking-related.  Thereafter, treatment focuses on keeping the airways open with medications.  There is less room in the lungs (even though they're bigger) for gas exchange, so many of these patients require supplemental oxygen.

Question 8

what is end stage emphysema?

Accepted Answer

Chronic Lung Disease: Emphysema is a form of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). There are different classifications of COPD. End stage could refer to you needing to use daily medications in order to relieve symptoms of shortness of breath. This could also mean needing to use oxygen. If a physician has mentioned "end stage" it is worth visiting with a lung specialist called a Pulmonologist.

Question 9

how long can emphysema last?

Accepted Answer

Forever: Once the condition is causing symptoms that are severe enough for a doctor to diagnose emphysema that means that there is a lot of lung tissue that is scarred. The scarring is permanent and there is no medication to reverse it. The medications to  treat emphysema only help the remaining unscarred lung tissue to work better.

Question 10

how can i have gotten emphysema?

Accepted Answer

Possibilities...: Most of the time, COPD is caused by smoking, if you are a non-smoker, there are environmental exposures that can contribute so what type of work you do may be relevant. There is also a form of COPD, alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency, which is caused by an enzyme deficiency. This can be diagnosed via a blood test and the enzyme can be replaced so the disease won't progress further.

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Doctor answers about:

What does emphysema feel like

A member asked:

What does it feel like being in advanced stages of emphysema?

A member asked:

What is lupus emphysema? and can lupus have systums that look like emphysema

A member asked:

What is emphysema ?

A member asked:

Is emphysema inherited?

A member asked:

Can emphysema be cured?

A member asked:

Consequences of emphysema ?

A member asked:

What is done for emphysema?

A member asked:

What is end stage emphysema?

A member asked:

How long can emphysema last?

A member asked:

How can i have gotten emphysema?

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