Emphysema (Pulmonary)

Definition

Pulmonary Emphysema is one of the two forms of emphysema included as glossary pages on this website. The other form od emphysema included here is Surgical Emphysema.
The air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs are enlarged and damaged, which reduces the surface area for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Cause

Normal lung tissue contains:

Over-expansion of aveloar sacs leads to:
	Loss of elasticity
	Loss of surface area
	Loss of lung capacity
	Insufficient take-up of oxygen
It is particularly common in men in Britain and is associated with chronic bronchitis, smoking, and advancing age.

Effect (Symptoms)

Severe emphysema causes breathlessness/severe breathing difficulty, which is made worse by infections.

To read about other conditions visit the page about Diseases and Disorders of the Respiratory System.

Multidisciplinary Approaches to Breathing Pattern Disorders

Click here for more textbooks.



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