Any knowledge about emphysema?!
Question: Any knowledge about emphysema!?
can general practitioner tell u diagnosis for emphysema just on the ground of listening your chest!? dose he has to refer you to specialists!?i have a bad chest but she just told me i have emphysema and not refer me to any Specialist!.would i look for second opinion!?
thank for anybody who answers!.very worried!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
thank for anybody who answers!.very worried!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
If you are unhappy get a second opinion!. If you are in the UK, go to a walk in centre and get some advice!.
It may for example be COPD, ie Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of diseases of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed!. This leads to a limitation of the flow of air to and from the lungs causing shortness of breath!. In contrast to asthma, the limitation of airflow is poorly reversible and usually gets progressively worse over time!.
COPD is caused by noxious particles or gases, most commonly from smoking, which trigger an abnormal inflammatory response in the lung
The inflammatory response in the larger airways is known as chronic bronchitis, which is diagnosed clinically when people regularly cough up sputum!. In the alveoli, the inflammatory response causes destruction of the tissues of the lung, a process known as emphysema!. The natural course of COPD is characterized by occasional sudden worsenings of symptoms called acute exacerbations, most of which are caused by infections or air pollution!.
The diagnosis of COPD requires lung function tests!. Important management strategies are smoking cessation, vaccinations, rehabilitation, and drug therapy (often using inhalers)!. Some patients go on to requiring long-term oxygen therapy or lung transplantation
Chronic bronchitis
Lung damage and inflammation in the large airways results in chronic bronchitis!. Chronic bronchitis is defined in clinical terms as a cough with sputum production on most days for 3 months of a year, for 2 consecutive years!.[21] In the airways of the lung, the hallmark of chronic bronchitris is an increased number (hyperplasia) and increased size (hypertrophy) of the goblet cells and mucous glands of the airway!. As a result, there is more mucus than usual in the airways, contributing to narrowing of the airways and causing a cough with sputum!. Microscopically there is infiltration of the airway walls with inflammatory cells!. Inflammation is followed by scarring and remodeling that thickens the walls and also results in narrowing of the airways!. As chronic bronchitis progresses, there is squamous metaplasia (an abnormal change in the tissue lining the inside of the airway) and fibrosis (further thickening and scarring of the airway wall)!. The consequence of these changes is a limitation of airflow!.[22]
Patients with advanced COPD that have primarily chronic bronchitis rather than emphysema were commonly referred to as "blue bloaters" because of the bluish color of the skin and lips (cyanosis) seen in them!. The hypoxia and fluid retention leads to them being called "Blue Bloaters!."
Emphysema
Gross pathology of a lung showing centrilobular-type emphysema characteristic of smoking!. This close-up of the fixed, cut lung surface shows multiple cavities lined by heavy black carbon deposits!.
Main article: emphysema
Lung damage and inflammation of the air sacs (alveoli) results in emphysema!. Emphysema is defined as enlargement of the air spaces distal to the terminal bronchioles, with destruction of their walls!. The destruction of air space walls reduces the surface area available for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide during breathing!. It also reduces the elasticity of the lung itself, which results in a loss of support for the airways that are embedded in the lung!. These airways are more likely to collapse causing further limitation to airflow!. The effort made by patients suffering from emphysema during exhalation, causes a pink color in their faces, hence the term commonly used to refer to them, "pink puffers"!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
It may for example be COPD, ie Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of diseases of the lungs in which the airways become narrowed!. This leads to a limitation of the flow of air to and from the lungs causing shortness of breath!. In contrast to asthma, the limitation of airflow is poorly reversible and usually gets progressively worse over time!.
COPD is caused by noxious particles or gases, most commonly from smoking, which trigger an abnormal inflammatory response in the lung
The inflammatory response in the larger airways is known as chronic bronchitis, which is diagnosed clinically when people regularly cough up sputum!. In the alveoli, the inflammatory response causes destruction of the tissues of the lung, a process known as emphysema!. The natural course of COPD is characterized by occasional sudden worsenings of symptoms called acute exacerbations, most of which are caused by infections or air pollution!.
The diagnosis of COPD requires lung function tests!. Important management strategies are smoking cessation, vaccinations, rehabilitation, and drug therapy (often using inhalers)!. Some patients go on to requiring long-term oxygen therapy or lung transplantation
Chronic bronchitis
Lung damage and inflammation in the large airways results in chronic bronchitis!. Chronic bronchitis is defined in clinical terms as a cough with sputum production on most days for 3 months of a year, for 2 consecutive years!.[21] In the airways of the lung, the hallmark of chronic bronchitris is an increased number (hyperplasia) and increased size (hypertrophy) of the goblet cells and mucous glands of the airway!. As a result, there is more mucus than usual in the airways, contributing to narrowing of the airways and causing a cough with sputum!. Microscopically there is infiltration of the airway walls with inflammatory cells!. Inflammation is followed by scarring and remodeling that thickens the walls and also results in narrowing of the airways!. As chronic bronchitis progresses, there is squamous metaplasia (an abnormal change in the tissue lining the inside of the airway) and fibrosis (further thickening and scarring of the airway wall)!. The consequence of these changes is a limitation of airflow!.[22]
Patients with advanced COPD that have primarily chronic bronchitis rather than emphysema were commonly referred to as "blue bloaters" because of the bluish color of the skin and lips (cyanosis) seen in them!. The hypoxia and fluid retention leads to them being called "Blue Bloaters!."
Emphysema
Gross pathology of a lung showing centrilobular-type emphysema characteristic of smoking!. This close-up of the fixed, cut lung surface shows multiple cavities lined by heavy black carbon deposits!.
Main article: emphysema
Lung damage and inflammation of the air sacs (alveoli) results in emphysema!. Emphysema is defined as enlargement of the air spaces distal to the terminal bronchioles, with destruction of their walls!. The destruction of air space walls reduces the surface area available for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide during breathing!. It also reduces the elasticity of the lung itself, which results in a loss of support for the airways that are embedded in the lung!. These airways are more likely to collapse causing further limitation to airflow!. The effort made by patients suffering from emphysema during exhalation, causes a pink color in their faces, hence the term commonly used to refer to them, "pink puffers"!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/COPDWww@Answer-Health@Com
Emphysema can be suspected bt the primary care doc but in order to confirm it she still has to get a Pulmonary Function test!. Also a chest x ray!. Put all those together with the clinical findings and it will be confirmed!. Primary care physicians are usually right about their suspicions but need to confirm a diagnosis with testing!. Also you need to be referred to a Pulmonologist who can guide you through your treatment!.God bless!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
The Doc heard decreased breath sounds!. Combined with history was probably the diagnoses!. My daughter also has asthma and will have this!. You still need pulmonary tx!. If you're smoking - stop!. Emphysema can't be cured but you can stop it from getting worse if you stop smoking now!. My dad smoked 3 packs a day and died of this in 1980!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
t is an incurable condition of the lungs it cbe slowed down but not cured you should pack up smoking if you are a smoker you need the right medication that your doctor will prescribe seek a second opinion
and get an x rayWww@Answer-Health@Com
and get an x rayWww@Answer-Health@Com
school of lifeWww@Answer-Health@Com
Your doctor should refer you to Pulmonary,PC!. I have it myself
You can contact one yourself!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
You can contact one yourself!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Jackson County Pulmonary,P!.C!.Www@Answer-Health@Com