People who are living with emphysema are dealing with a serious condition. Emphysema affects the lungs and causes issues with breathing. This illness has multiple causes and symptoms. It’s important for people to get treatment as soon as possible. Let’s explore some of those signs, symptoms, and causes. Then, we can talk a little about how to treat and help those who are living with emphysema.
What Exactly is Emphysema?
Even if you aren’t currently living with emphysema, you may have heard of this condition before. But, perhaps you don’t know much about it. Well, like we mentioned, emphysema is a condition of the lungs. People who are living with emphysema have damaged air sacs in their lungs. This causes those sacs to become very weak. As a result, the air spaces become enlarged. Since the lungs are so damaged, they aren’t able to get enough oxygen into the blood. So, breathing becomes very hard to do.
Signs and Symptoms of Emphysema
People who are living with emphysema may experience different signs and symptoms than others. But emphysema is a type of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). So, people who have this condition will most likely have symptoms like:
- Continual coughing
- Tightness in chest
- Wheezing
- Mucus build up
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Loss of appetite
- Sleeping trouble
- Weight loss
- Tiredness and fatigue
Again, some of these symptoms may not be seen in every case of emphysema. The severity of the symptoms will also vary. But, if you or someone you know sees any of these signs, you should seek medical attention right away.
Why Do People Get This Condition?
So, what are the main causes of emphysema? Why are people living with emphysema and what can they do to treat it? There are various reasons why this condition develops. But, one of the main causes of this illness is smoking (tobacco). Smoking can cause a major coughing problem and do damage to a person’s lungs. It’s thought to be the cause of over 80% of emphysema cases. Doctors believe that emphysema could also be caused by pollution or the inhaling of mineral or cotton dust. Other possible causes of this condition might include low weight and heredity.
Treating Emphysema
Just like symptoms and causes vary, there are many different ways to treat those who are living with emphysema. There is no known cure for this condition. But there certainly are effective treatments for it. Of course, one of the first things people can do is stop smoking. Since tobacco is one of the major contributors to developing this condition, it’s important to get rid of that risk factor.
Doctors may suggest oxygen therapy for people who are living with emphysema. Those who have this lung condition usually have a lot of trouble breathing. But, this kind of treatment helps provide more oxygen to the lungs and body. Another possible method of treatment is a lung transplant.
Finally, people often take medications to treat emphysema. This way of treating the condition is actually one of the most popular methods. There are many prescription medications that can be taken for emphysema.
Are You Living With Emphysema?
Do you have emphysema? Or, do you know someone else who does? If so, you should know about The RX Helper. We are a prescription assistance program. That basically means that we help make medication more affordable to the people who need it. If you or someone you know could use a little help paying for medicine, feel free to contact us today. Let’s fight emphysema (and pricey medication) together.
