Emphysema

Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is a disease of the lungs that gets gradually worse over time. The main cause of emphysema is smoking or being around tobacco smoke.

Emphysema causes irreversible damage to a person’s lungs, which inevitably affects their ability to breathe to some degree – this will be different for each person with the condition.

Over a million people in the UK have some form of COPD, many of these people specifically have emphysema. Emphysema usually affects people aged 50 and over, but some younger people do develop the condition, although it may be very mild at the beginning with symptoms of emphysema that may be hardly noticeable or attributed to something else.

For more information on emphysema, visit the NHS website.

Emphysema causes breathing problems due to damage within the lungs.

Lungs are organs that enable the body to breathe in oxygen, which the blood carries around to the heart and other organs. Within the lungs, small air sacs called alveoli, work to exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide, which is breathed out as a waste gas. In emphysema, the alveoli become so damaged that they burst. As the number of functioning alveoli is reduced, the lungs become less able to breathe out the carbon dioxide, and have less room for fresh oxygen, which results in emphysema symptoms of shortness of breath.

Tobacco smoking is the most common cause of emphysema. Smoking means a person inhales thousands of poisons, chemicals and toxins that damage the lungs, as well as making the person at risk of other serious health problems such as stroke and heart disease. Stopping smoking can help reduce the risk of developing emphysema and other lung conditions, and it can help stop further lung damage for people who have already been given an emphysema diagnosis. To understand more about how smoking affects your body, visit the Smokefree website.

Not everybody who has emphysema will be or will have been a smoker. Exposure to second hand smoke is also a risk factor, so it is important to avoid being around smokers. Exposure to pollutants, chemicals and other irritants can also cause emphysema to develop.

Find out more about what causes emphysema.

Breathlessness in early stages may occur at certain times of the day, for example, after exercising or during the night. There are lots of emphysema triggers that people report make their symptoms worse e.g. cold weather.

The NHS provides more information on emphysema symptoms.

There are lots of reasons that people feel breathless, and if you are having breathlessness symptoms, there may be other reasons such as anxiety, stress, asthma, reaction to medication, allergies, etc. However, it is advisable to have this checked out by your GP. If you present with potential emphysema symptoms, your GP will probably listen to your breathing, ask if you are (or have ever been) a smoker, order a blood test and perhaps send you for a chest X-ray.

The British Lung Foundation provides a getting the best from your doctor guide which may be helpful to you.

There are lots of medications available to help open your airways, reduce inflammation in the lungs, reduce excessive mucus production and increase the amount of oxygen being inhaled. Some people are prescribed steroids or beta-2 agonists which are self-administered by an inhaler.

People with severe emphysema may require use of a nebuliser, which is a device that delivers medication through a mask or mouthpiece. Some people also require oxygen therapy, which involves breathing oxygen through a face mask or mouth piece, from an oxygen tank for several hours or most of the day. If you are prescribed oxygen therapy, you may have lots of questions, and may wish to visit the British Lung Foundation website for more information.

Some people with advanced emphysema may have the option of surgery, such as a lung transplant, which is a serious operation with many risk factors to take into account. For information about various surgical emphysema treatment options, consult your specialist of visit the British Lung Foundation website.

If you are given a diagnosis of emphysema and currently smoke, you will be strongly advised to stop smoking to help slow down the progression of your condition and make your breathing easier. For more advice on how to quit smoking, visit the NHS Stop Smoking webpage.

People with emphysema are still able to find a good quality of life. Many still work, socialise, travel and so on. Depending on how severe your condition is, you may find some aspects of daily life challenging due to being breathless or fatigued. This is more likely for anyone living with advanced emphysema.

You may wish to get a better understanding of what it is like living with emphysema by reading stories from other people affected by the condition.

At Healthcare Pro, we supply daily living aids which can help make daily tasks easier if you have a chronic condition or disability. Below, we list a selection of products that may help you retain independence if you have emphysema, particularly if it is quite advanced and making daily life a challenge for you.

If you would like to speak to one of our Occupational Therapists to find if there are any daily living aids that may help you or someone you care for, please email them productadvice@healthcarepro.co.uk or telephone 0345 121 8111.

Keeping to a healthy weight and eating healthy foods is important for people with emphysema, to help ensure the lungs and heart are not put under additional stress, and to help the body function to the best of its ability. There is no definitive emphysema diet to follow, except for a balanced one. Drinking lots of fluid, especially water, can help to reduce excess mucus and flush toxins through the body. Read the Eatwell Guide for more information on healthy diet for emphysema.

Emphysema can sometimes cause loss of appetite or difficulty eating and drinking due to being breathless. If this is the case for you or a family member, you may wish to read the British Lung Foundation’s advice eating well with a lung condition.

If you have received a diagnosis of emphysema, you will be advised to get regular, aerobic exercise that gets your heart beating faster. You may be advised to go on a pulmonary rehabilitation course, which is designed to help people with lung conditions learn about exercise and start an exercise regime. Speak to your GP about emphysema exercise or pulmonary rehabilitation courses that they may be able to refer you to. Your GP may also refer you to a physiotherapist, who can help you find suitable exercises for emphysema, taking into account your abilities and symptoms.

The NHS provides more advice about getting fit and the British Lung Foundation provides information about keeping active with a lung condition.

People with emphysema may be able to continue to work. Some may need to change jobs or reduce their hours. Everyone is different. If you decide to continue to work, you may benefit from telling your employer about your condition. If you decide you are unable to work, you may wish to explore financial support you can apply for. The My Lungs, My Life website provides lots of information about emphysema and work.

British Lung Foundation Forum – an online forum for people with emphysema and other lung conditions

British Lung Foundation – the UK’s leading charity for people with lung conditions, offering information on a variety of lung conditions, a helpline and local support network

My Lungs My Life – practical advice and information about living with emphysema

NHS Choices – source of official medical information about causes, symptoms and treatments for emphysema, COPD and other lung conditions