Introduction

Emphysema is a lung disease that has an impact on the walls of the alveoli in your lungs. This damage can lead to a blockage trapping air inside your lungs. When too much air gets stuck in your lungs, your chest might look fuller or have a barrel-chested shape. As the number of alveoli decreases, less oxygen enters your bloodstream.

What are the Stages of Emphysema?

Doctors group emphysema (a type of COPD) into four stages using lung function tests: Stage 1. This marks the mildest phase of emphysema. Your lungs work at least 80% of the healthy lungs with few or no symptoms. Stage 2. This indicates moderate emphysema. Your lungs function between 50% and 79% of the healthy lungs of your age, with noticeable breathing difficulty and cough Stage 3. This represents severe emphysema. Your lungs perform between 30% and 49% of the function of a healthy lung of your age with severe breathing difficulty, fatigue, and an affect on your daily activities. Stage 4. This shows serious emphysema. Your lungs work less than 30% of the healthy lungs of your age, with severe shortness of breath, low oxygen levels, and risk of respiratory failure.

Symptoms

Emphysema symptoms often go unnoticed until the disease destroys over 50% of lung tissue. The first signs include a gradual increase in breathlessness and tiredness. Other emphysema symptoms include:

• Persistent coughing (smoker's cough)
• Wheezing
• Difficulty breathing during mild activities like climbing stairs
• Constant feeling of air hunger
• Chest constriction
• More mucus production
• Unusual mucus colour (yellow or green)
• Lasting exhaustion
• Heart issues
• Sleep disturbances
• Low mood
• Dropping pounds

Cause of Emphysema While smoking is the primary reason for emphysema other factors can cause it too. These include:

• Marijuana
• Vaping and e-cigarettes
• Cigar smoke
• Toxins in the air
• Dust
• Chemical fumes

How do Doctors Identify Emphysema?

Your doctor will do a physical check-up. During this check-up, doctors will use a stethoscope to listen to your breathing, tap on your chest, and check if it sounds hollow. A hollow sound can mean air is stuck in the lungs. Diagnostic tests are:

• CT scan:Gives detailed pictures of the lungs to confirm and check damage. Pulmonary function testing: Checks lung capacity and airflow to see how well you breathe. Arterial blood gas (ABG): Looks at oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG): Checks heart function because lung problems can put stress on the heart.
• Blood tests and genetic tests: Find other causes, including alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency that have a link to emphysema.

Treatment

Emphysema can get worse as time passes so treatment aims to slow down the disease and make the most of your remaining healthy lung function. Your treatment plan depends on how severe your emphysema is. Treatment options are:

• Quitting smoking: If you smoke, stopping has the biggest impact on slowing down further damage to your lungs.
• Bronchodilators: Help your airway muscles relax, making it easier to breathe. Inhaled corticosteroids: Reduce inflammation in your airways and improve your symptoms.
• Oral corticosteroids: Ease inflammation during bad flare-ups.
• Antibiotics: Antibiotics help fight bacterial infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis and other lung problems.
• Anti-inflammatory medications: Help to control ongoing inflammation in your airways.
• Oxygen therapy: This treatment gives you extra oxygen when the levels in your blood are too low.
• Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS): This surgery removes damaged lung tissue to help you breathe better.
• Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction: This minimally invasive procedure shrinks the diseased lung area without damaging nearby tissue.
• Lung transplant: An option for advanced cases when other treatments no longer provide help.