Emphysema
is a serious chronic lung disease of the category COPD -
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Unlike bronchitis or asthma, emphysema can develop silently
over many years. Classic symptoms like shortness of breath
do not appear until irreparable lung damage has occurred.
More than 11 million Americans are known sufferers from
COPD-class lung diseases, but there are millions more unknowingly
in the early stages of emphysema.
Emphysema
affects two parts of the respiratory system:
The
alveoli – the final branches into the lungs from
the respiratory system which control the exchange of
oxygen and carbon dioxide. A thin gas-blood barrier
between the alveolar space and the pulmonary capillaries
allows for rapid gas exchange. To reach the blood, oxygen
diffuses through the alveolar epithelium, a thin space,
and the capillary endothelium; CO2 passes through in
reverse order.
The
ends of the smallest bronchi – airways inside
the lungs. Damage to these air sacs can result in permanent
damage to lower lung tissue.
In emphysema,
the lungs lose their elasticity. These two areas of the
lungs become enlarged and less efficient at delivering oxygen
to the blood. This causes difficulty breathing; in fact
emphysema takes 20% more of a person’s energy. The
shortness of breath from too little oxygen is the reason
these sufferers must tote oxygen tanks and wear nasal tubes.
Other symptoms are fatigue, a chronic cough with or without
phlegm, and loss of appetite due to the effort it takes
to breathe while eating.
What
causes Emphysema?
The greatest risk factor for emphysema, hands
down, is smoking. Most smokers will first develop
symptoms when they are in their 50’s and 60’s.
Other risks are:
Long
term exposure to second hand smoke
Working
with chemical fumes
HIV-positive
smokers are at higher risk for emphysema
Tissue
disorders – premature aging diseases and organ
diseases
Heredity
– A rare inherited deficiency of a protein,
alpha-1-antitrypsin, can cause emphysema, usually
before age 50.
Easing
Emphysema – Lifestyle and Treatment
Keep
exercising, as hard as it may seem! Becoming
sedentary is one of the worst things you can do. It
may be hard at first, but breathing will become easier
if you are physically working your muscles. Many emphysema
medications tend to make people gain weight. Stay active.
Consider
complementary medicine. Currently, there
is no prescription medicine with permanent effectiveness
in stopping the decline of health associated with emphysema.
But there IS natural and homeopathic help! Växa’s
Lung Formula
can help stop further damage by aiding the body in:
easing
the cough
relaxing
bronchial muscles
controlling
the amount and consistency of phlegm
lessening
lung congestions
Lung Formula
can be taken 2 hours apart from prescription medication
without interfering with each other.
Balanced
diet and antioxidant vitamins can help.
First, eat well even if you don’t feel like it.
Next, antioxidants chase away “free radicals”
– harmful atom particles which cling to our cells
and cause damage. Växa’s Anti-Oxin+
contains these powerful protective agents. Dark green
vegetables, and sweet potatoes which are very healthy
and easy to digest, also contain great antioxidants.
Get
vaccines for pneumonia and influenza.
The American Lung Association highly advises this, as
sufferers from emphysema are very likely to contract
contagious influenza or to develop pneumonia. Växa
also offers a Flu
Prevention Pac to provide nutritional support for
the Immune System. It is especially geared to people
with lowered Immune Systems from other bacterial and
viral ailments like respiratory illnesses.
Keep
clean. Wash hands often and avoid hand
contact whenever possible. This is how most viral infections
are passed.
Stop
smoking. It is never too late to prevent
even more damage.
If
you live with a smoker, show them this article and ask
them to smoke outside the home for your safety as well
as theirs.
Emphysema
can be life-threatening. Very severe cases may warrant lung
transplant under the right circumstances.