Emphysema - a long, progressive lung disease when the walls of the alveoli are destroyed. As a result of this reduced space lung in which the blood and the air may interact with each other, and the possibility to enrich the blood with oxygen and excrete carbon dioxide are limited.

The more damaged the lungs, the harder they maintain normal concentration of oxygen in the blood, and the body tries to compensate for this by gradually increasing the heart rate. After a while, even hyperventilation does not help to maintain a normal level of oxygen in the lungs and arteries begin to narrow. The heart has to work more intensively that push blood through the narrowed blood vessels, due to which the blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries is increased. Its some time overly active work causes an increase in heart muscle, which can lead to heart failure Heart failure - when the heart is unable to cope with the work .

Causes and risk factors

The main risk factor for the development of emphysema is cigarette smoking, which activates the inflammatory processes in the lungs. Perhaps there is a genetic predisposition to emphysema, as this is a violation of developing not all smokers.

There are also forms of congenital emphysema. For example, a rare genetic disorder known as deficiency of alpha-1-antitrypsin is a lack of a chemical that protects the lungs from various injuries.

Emphysema may also be part of the aging process.

Less common causes of pulmonary emphysema:

• Intravenous drug use, which contain narcotic additives that are toxic to the lung tissue.
• Connective tissue diseases.
• In third world countries a common cause of emphysema is air pollution.

Symptoms

The first signs appear emphysema, usually over the age of 50 years. The most common symptoms of this condition are cough, shortness of breath, wheezing. As the disease there is a weakness, because of which man becomes more and more difficult to cope with their daily activities.

Treatment

Emphysema can not be completely cured - lung damage it causes is irreversible. The objective of treatment - to stop the further destruction of lung tissue and preserve lung function. Without treatment emphysema can lead to the failure of various organs.

Smokers people who discovered pulmonary emphysema Emphysema - a deadly disease , You need to quit smoking How to Quit Smoking: Tips for Women . Those who are regularly exposed to tobacco smoke should limit this effect as passive smoking may be less harmful than active.

Bronchodilators. These drugs are used to facilitate breathing in patients with emphysema. For short-acting bronchodilators are anticholinergics, ipratropium bromide, and other drugs.

A more long-acting medications have such as salmeterol (Serevent), formoterol (Foradil) and tiotropium (Spiriva). They are often used for maintenance of remission, and short-acting bronchodilators used for fast relief of the patient.

Since many patients emphysema there is not "pure", and together with other disorders that relate to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, along with bronhorasshitelyami often prescribe corticosteroids. Some patients receiving corticosteroids required only during exacerbations, another of these drugs are required on a daily basis.

Because emphysema patients at increased risk of a variety of bacterial infections, when the signs of infection it is often administered antibiotics Antibiotics - whether they will help you in the foreseeable future? .

Bronchiectasis - a condition in which, as a result of damage, airways expanded and deformed. Usually bronchiectasis is caused by infection or other conditions in which there is damage to the walls of the airway is obstructed or withdrawal of mucus from the airways. Using the mucus from the airway to remove bacteria, dust and other small particles.

Bronchiectasis - a condition in which, as a result of damage, airways expanded and deformed. Usually bronchiectasis is caused by infection or other conditions in which there is damage to the walls of the airway is obstructed or withdrawal of mucus from the airways. Using the mucus from the airway to remove bacteria, dust and other small particles.

When pronoektaticheskoy airways disease gradually lose their ability to eliminate cleaned with phlegm, and this leads to the uncontrolled growth of bacteria. The result of this can be repeated, severe pulmonary infections.

Any infection can cause damage to the airways. Over time, the air is not able to move normally for damaged airways and the supply of oxygen to the organs is limited. Bronhoektaicheskaya disease can lead to severe conditions such as respiratory failure, atelectasis, and heart failure.

Overview

Bronchiectasis may affect only a small portion of the lung, or a few areas of both lungs. The initial damage to the lungs and airways, which then leads to the development of the disease often occurs in childhood. However, the symptoms may even occur months or even years later, after a man appeared recurrent pulmonary infections. Often bronchiectasis develops due to major diseases such as whooping cough This pest, pest whooping ... , Cystic fibrosis Cystic fibrosis: early diagnosis - the key to recovery   and primary ciliary dyskinesia.

Bronchiectasis can be congenital or acquired. In the first case, it begins to appear in infants or young children - usually it is associated with structural abnormalities in the lungs, which appeared in utero. Acquired bronchiectasis can develop at any age and is more common than congenital.

Causes

Damage to the respiratory tract, because of which the developing bronchiectasis can be diseases such as severe pneumonia, whooping cough, chickenpox Chickenpox: painful, but not dangerous Tuberculosis Tuberculosis - a full recovery is not guaranteed , Fungal infections.

In addition, the risk of bronchiectasis increases for the following diseases:

Immunodeficiency states - among them some autoimmune disorders, as well as HIV and AIDS.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis - allergic reaction to a fungus called aspergillus. The reaction causes swelling and inflammation of the airways.

Diseases that disturb the function of the lung cilia, such as primary ciliary dyskinesia. Cilia - a small degree on the inner membrane of the respiratory tract related to the hair. Normally, they promote the flow of mucus from the respiratory tract.

Obstruction of the airways, such as by the formation of benign or cancerous tumor, inhalation of small objects, as well as due to other reasons can become trigger bronchiectasis.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of bronchiectasis:

• Daily cough for several months or years.
• Output of large amounts of mucus during coughing.
• Shortness of breath and wheezing.
• Chest pain.
• Seal skin under the fingernails and toenails.

Using a stethoscope doctor may hear abnormal sounds in your lungs. Over time there will be more serious symptoms. For example, fatigue, coughing up sputum, weight loss and growth retardation in children.

Diagnostics

The main tasks of the physician in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis:

• Identification of the underlying disease
• Exclusion of other possible causes of the onset of symptoms
• Establishing the degree of damage to the airways

Most often the diagnosis of bronchiectasis do a CT scan of the chest. This procedure allows you to get a clear picture of the respiratory tract and detect possible damage. Sometimes using X-ray, but it is less reliable in this disease.