The emergence of emphysema

Prolonged progressive disease, emphysema is caused by destruction of the alveolar walls of the lungs. As a result, the lung volume is reduced, which reduces the amount of air, placed in a light, and a shortage of oxygen in the blood. Emphysema is classified as chronic obstructive lung disease, because the disease destroys the tissue around the pulmonary bronchioles, distributing the air flow, leading to dysfunction and form lung. In fact, emphysema - a disease that reduces the ability of the lungs to push air, the process is completely dependent on the natural elasticity of the lungs.

The term comes from Greek emphysema «emhysao», which means "swell." The amount of oxygen entering the body because of the disease is reduced, breathing becomes difficult, because lung tissue is gradually destroyed. This condition leads to the formation of large holes in the lungs, airway obstruction, reduced lung elasticity. Emphysema - one of the major causes of death and disability in the United States, where the disease each year claims the lives of 100,000 people.

Emphysema is common among people aged 50 and older, but some patients may suffer from an inherited emphysema, even in thirty or forty years. Men are more susceptible than women, but the statistics of recent years shows that women are more likely to develop emphysema as a result of increasing the number of women smokers.

The effects of pulmonary emphysema

• Lungs, losing elasticity not reduced to the full extent, which in turn leads to the fact that the alveoli not release all the air and exhalation becomes difficult.
• Since the total exhalation occurs, the next breath begins with a large volume of air in the lungs.
• Air introduced into the lungs before, takes place, resulting in a new inhalation into the lungs for the insufficient amount of oxygen saturation of fresh air.
• Shortness of breath, coupled with a constant voltage of light - one of the most common symptoms of emphysema. In the later stages of the disease shortness of breath Shortness of breath - what she can testify?   It occurs even at rest.

Causes

• Smoking: air sacs in the lung macrophages produce - special protective cells that destroy particles inhaled with cigarette smoke. This makes it easy, but the macrophages in turn produce the substance destroys the protein in lung - elastin, promotes the expansion of the lungs, and collagen promoting reduction lungs.
• Antitrypsin deficiency: pulmonary emphysema may develop as a result of deficiency of the protein alpha-1 antitrypsin. Antitrypsin deficiency - an inherited condition.

As shown

• Lack of breathing at rest
• Cough
• Breathing difficulties / exhalations
• Noticeable blue leather
• Generating phlegm

Diagnostics

• The study of the patient's history
• Physical examination
• Chest X-ray
• Computed tomography of the chest
• Laboratory tests (e.g., blood)
• A study of pulmonary function

Treatment

Completely effective drug and method for treating emphysema currently exist. A variety of treatments to help slow the progression of the disease and reduce its symptoms. One of the main requirements for the treatment of emphysema - a complete cessation of smoking. For treatment of disease, the following preparations:

• Bronchodilators: to relieve the feeling of tightness and tightness of the respiratory tract
• Corticosteroids: to reduce inflammation
• Antibiotics: to treat infections
• The auxiliary oxygen: if the patient is unable to breathe on their own, doctors recommend oxygen therapy, which allows the body to compensate for the missing oxygen

Surgical treatment of emphysema include

• Lung transplantation
• Removing the damaged area light

Emphysema and lung cancer

In people suffering from emphysema, the risk of developing lung cancer Lung cancer - prevention is better than cure   much higher than in healthy people - it does not mean that the occurrence of lung cancer is guaranteed in all cases emphysema, and vice versa. One of these diseases is not connected with others and does not cause the other.

Types of hyperventilation

In times of stress a person begins often superficial or very deep breath. This is a temporary phenomenon and quickly passes on their own or with the use of special techniques. But the same breath can occur in certain diseases, in this case, will have only a doctor after a preliminary examination.

Hyperventilation - is increased ventilation that occurs in the amplification and rapid breathing. In light of this hard release carbon dioxide, the amount of blood is also reduced (hypocapnia), the acidity of the blood falls, the blood becomes alkaline properties. Increased affinity of hemoglobin (it carries oxygen to the tissues) to oxygen, oxygen does not enter the tissue and begins anoxia (hypoxia).

Hyperventilation may be temporary or chronic. Temporary hyperventilation often occurs during stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis , Fright, panic attacks Attack Panic attacks - fear of nowhere , With nervousness. In the blood, a large amount of adrenaline, which is called the "stress hormone," it was he who contributes to more frequent breathing. A similar condition can occur when a shortage of oxygen (e.g., in the mountains), some medications, has a stimulating effect on the respiratory centers in the brain (tsititon, lobeline, a variety of stimulants, such as caffeine) infections, which produce toxins also affect on centers in the brain, bleeding, high temperature and so on. The attack usually lasts about an hour, but can last several hours.

Chronic hyperventilation - a consequence of a disease, such as organic (the restructuring), brain damage, which can occur after injury, against the tumor, and so on. Often hyperventilation occurs on the background of a heart attack, coronary heart disease, hypertension, pulmonary diseases. Attacks hyperventilation may occur in pregnant women in toxicosis of pregnancy in patients with severe kidney disease, accompanied by a decrease in their function and accumulation in the blood of a variety of toxic substances.

Predisposing factors for the development of hyperventilation are the various diseases of the nervous system and brain, as well as age: most bouts of hyperventilation occur before the age of 12 years, at puberty Puberty child - stages of a complex path   and in old age.

Signs

Symptoms of hyperventilation - a part of the surface or, on the contrary, a deep breath, increasing anxiety, fear, dry mouth, heart palpitations, blurred vision, paresthesia ("goose bumps" on the skin, pain in the fingertips). During prolonged and intense hyperventilation appears reduced mental capacity, dizziness, disorientation, and sometimes - fainting. The resulting hyperventilation biochemical changes in the blood can affect certain neural structures, increasing their anxiety, which in turn lead to seizures.

A significant reduction in carbon dioxide concentration in the blood can lead to a reduction in blood pressure, vasoconstriction and cerebral blood flow redistribution: deteriorating blood circulation of heart and brain.

Prevention

Prevention and Treatment of hyperventilation is basically in the elimination of its cause. Recommended various measures that reduce the emotional intensity - you need to take a sedative drug (eg valokordin or Corvalol), your doctor may enter a sedative Sedatives - take valerian and be happy?   by injection. Recommended for a few minutes to try to breathe the rare (at a rate of breath - breathe out for 6 seconds) and then attack gipervetilyatsii lungs may stop. It is not necessary (or at least until the next no doctor), as recommended by some American sites, to breathe into a paper bag - during hyperventilation may be disturbed consciousness and people just choke in a bag.

If repeated bouts of hyperventilation, it is necessary to consult a doctor and find out the cause of their regular appearance. For this comprehensive survey is conducted to avoid serious diseases of the brain, kidney, lung or the cardiovascular system.

Hyperventilation is dangerous because it can lead to loss of consciousness and acute ischemic stroke (the consequences of which are difficult to predict), so it is necessary to pay very close attention and not to self-medicate. At the same time, if attacks occur regularly, they do not need to be afraid, you should take it easy and possible to hold your breath.

Galina Romanenko