Emphysema Life Expectancy, and What You Can Do About It

To be honest about it, emphysema life expectancy ismembers getting affected.
not very encouraging. This disease affects a personThe distinguishing symptoms include as much as 35%
progressively and it is irreversible and thus lifeto 55% damage in the lung tissues, and most of such
expectancy because of emphysema is certainlydamage is beyond repair. Based on the results of
affected. Alternative treatments may however offerbreathing tests (PFT or the Pulmonary Function Test)
some help. Not only humans, emphysema attacksthere are 4 successive stages of emphysema and
animals too. For example, canine emphysema is notthey are...
that uncommon.Stage 1 - Mild
Prior to antibiotics, infection in the lungs, particularlyStage 2 - Moderate
by the tubercular bacilli that caused pulmonaryStage 3 - Severe
tuberculosis could not be cured - doctors merelyStage 4 - Very severe or Terminal
described the disorder as a "wasting disease". EvenEmphysema Life Expectancy And The Role Of
today, after the invention of multi-powered drugs,Spirometry
TB remains as one of the toughest diseases to beSpirometry is employed to measure the volumes
fully cured.percentage of exhaled air by the patient in a second.
Emphysema, which also involves the lungs, is yetThis is medically termed as FEV 1 or Forced
another difficult to cure disease. As a matter of fact,Expiratory Volume over one second. This is an
modern day medics cannot cure it at all. Whileimportant test because it gives the doctor an
pulmonary tuberculosis is manageable with highlyestimate about the patient's health status and how
potent antibiotics that can eventually kill the bacillilong he or she may live. For a normal healthy person,
before the bacilli can kill the patient, no antibiotic canthe Spirometer reading will hover between 80 and
repair the holes in the lungs that has been caused by100. But for an emphysema patient whose reading is
the alveoli. And this is the tragedy of emphysema.below 35, the person will belong to Stage 4, and this
The Emphysema Disease And Its Life Expectancywill mean that he or she is not expected to live for
Emphysema is a chronic and progressive pulmonarylong. However, with some information and effective
(lung) disorder and it is characterized by breathingmeasures, the person will be certainly able to survive
symptoms that include shortness of breath,for many years.
difficulties in breathing and a feeling of being windedDiagnostic test results apart, several other factors
during exertion. Though the symptoms inalso help determine emphysema life expectancy.
emphysema and chronic bronchitis are more or lessThese include the patient's body weight (lower
similar, emphysema's breathing trouble is a unique andweight indicates a greater risk), how much he or she
singular phenomenon.can cover before experiencing breathing problems,
Studies reveal that emphysema is more prevalent inthe ability to resist viral or other infections and
men above the age of 65 years. And if someone isothers.
diagnosed with the disease at this age, many doctorsTo improve emphysema life expectancy, doctors
give the person a maximum of 3 years to live.usually prescribe long-term oxygen therapy and this
Children and those in pregnancy can also be a victim.also eases the breathing problems. Small, handy
Of course though life expectancy takes a beatingoxygen cylinders can provide 24-hour supply of
here too, but they can expect to live for longer. Itoxygen, thereby increasing the life expectancy to a
can be said that the life expectancy goes down withgreat extent. But the key is to act according to the
age. But on the positive side, at least emphysema isphysician's advice.
not contagious and so there is no risk of the family