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Signs And Symptoms Of Emphysema

Emphysema is a chronic lung disease that occurs when the air sacs in the lungs (called the alveoli) can no longer inflate and deflate to pump air in and out of the lungs as they should. Many people don't experience symptoms in the early stages, but as the condition progresses, you may experience shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and fatigue.

Because the lung damage with emphysema is permanent, symptoms do not improve with time. Your symptoms may also flare up after encountering certain lung irritants or developing a lung infection.

Emphysema is also one of the main conditions that make up chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), so it's important to seek care for your symptoms early to lower your risk of complications.

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Emphysema symptoms can differ by person, but common symptoms may include: Persistent cough, often with mucus Shortness of breath that worsens with physical activity Wheezing Chest tightness Fatigue Healthcare providers may diagnose COPD in stages based on how impaired your breathing is or how much phlegm is in your cough. You may also be diagnosed with pre-COPD, which occurs when you have some symptoms of COPD without trouble breathing. If you have pre-COPD and later develop emphysema, symptoms can depend on which stage you're in and how fast it's progressing. Early-Stage Symptoms Many people don't know they have emphysema in its early stages because the lungs do not usually need to function at 100%. Even if the lungs don't work as well as they used to, people with early-stage COPD may not notice a difference in their breathing. Minor symptoms of emphysema may resemble asthma. Smoking is the leading risk factor for emphysema, so people experiencing a persistent wet cough may dismiss it as a typical smoker's cough. This may hinder you from seeking care from your provider. There are several early warning signs of emphysema you should pay attention to, including: Coughing with mucus Increase in respiratory infections, such as the cold, flu, or pneumonia Trouble breathing during physical activity Later-Stage Symptoms As emphysema progresses, symptoms worsen and begin to reduce quality of life. The lungs can no longer pump enough oxygen to the body. The heart and other organs then try to compensate, which can weaken them and lead to other health conditions.  The primary symptom of later-stage emphysema is worsening shortness of breath. You may have trouble breathing during minor daily tasks or, eventually, while at rest. Other symptoms of late-stage emphysema can include: Pursing the lips while breathing Morning headaches Unexpected weight loss Muscle weakness Bulging of the chest (becoming "barrel-shaped") Swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet Many people with emphysema also have a higher risk of developing other health conditions alongside COPD as their condition progresses, including heart disease, osteoporosis, and mental health conditions. If you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of emphysema and another co-occurring condition, it's important to seek care from your provider right away for proper diagnosis and treatment. Emphysema is not contagious, so you cannot spread it to another person. Emphysema symptoms can worsen due to frequent respiratory and lung infections (such as the cold or flu). These infections are contagious, so it's a good idea to cover your mouth while coughing, wash your hands frequently, and isolate to prevent spreading the illness to others. Symptoms of emphysema are a cause for concern, so it's essential to make an appointment with a healthcare provider if you have a new or worsening cough, trouble breathing, or chest tightness that does not go away within a few days. Emphysema flare-ups can be serious and even life-threatening if not treated right away. If you have these severe signs of an emphysema flare-up, seek urgent medical care:  Inability to catch your breath Racing heart Fingernails or lips turning blue Confusion Emphysema is a serious lung disease that occurs when your lungs become damaged and cannot send enough oxygen to your body. Early on, you may not notice symptoms of emphysema. When symptoms do appear, they often include shortness of breath, a cough with phlegm, and a wheezing sound when you exhale. If you have symptoms, it's important to get an accurate emphysema diagnosis and start treatment as soon as possible to prevent further lung damage.

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New COPD Care Is Here, But Patients First Need Accurate Diagnosis

ABINGTON, Pa. (WPVI) -- Understanding and treating COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is one of the most active fields in medicine.

But there's still a huge need for more awareness so that people are accurately diagnosed.

"My mom and dad had a form of COPD when they died. They were smokers," says Gina Eberhardt of Abington, Pennsylvania.

But when Gina's brother developed COPD at a young age, the family learned that smoking wasn't the sole cause.

They carry a genetic mutation called Alpha One antitrypsin.

"My liver doesn't make enough proteins to protect my lungs," Gina said. "My brother was 42 years old when he passed, and my sister was 54."

Kevin Carney, CRNP, a nurse practitioner in the Temple Health Lung Center, says COPD is often found during screenings for other ailments, such as lung cancer.

"We do a breathing test, about a third or half would have evidence of obstruction, two-thirds of which had no idea. So it's a very under-reported diagnosis," Carney says.

He says it's easy to rationalize the symptoms, such as shortness of breath during everyday activities.

"Walking up and down the steps got harder," recalls Gina.

Chronic coughing and extreme tiredness are other symptoms.

"I wanted to sleep all the time," she says, adding, "It would take me an hour just to get moving."

Gina brought those symptoms up to her doctor but some people don't, Carney says.

"'I'm getting older, I'm deconditioned, I'm out of shape.' They attribute it to something else," he says.

He says treatments can be tailored now, however, patients need the right breathing tests to determine the specific type of COPD or other lung disease.

For that reason, they need to see a pulmonary specialist.

"You've had a heart attack, I hope you'd see a cardiologist. If you've had a stroke, I hope you'd see a neurologist," notes Carney.

Gina now has valves implanted in diseased portions of her left lung, helping it work more efficiently.

And she notices a difference.

"As time goes on, I'm getting more and more energy. I can do so much more," she says.

Kevin Carney says there are several new drugs available, including one in a whole new class that doesn't just open airways, but lowers inflammation, and can prevent flare-ups.

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Public Offered Free Breath And Lung Function Tests To Detect Lung Disease

Around 380,000 people are living with COPD in Ireland yet only 110,000 people are thought to have had a formal diagnosis.

At least 1,500 people die of COPD each year and over 15,000 people are admitted to hospital with the disease.

COPD is an umbrella term that includes both emphysema, which is damage to the air sacs in the lungs, and chronic bronchitis, which is inflammation of the airways.

This is where air moves into the lungs reasonably well, but there is difficulty or obstruction to the air moving out of the lungs efficiently, which causes people with COPD to feel breathless.

To mark World COPD Day on Wednesday COPD Support Ireland, has published COPD & Me: an essential guide to living with COPD and is also embarking on a nationwide COPD & Me Roadshow visiting towns and cities around the country.

The COPD & Me Roadshow will see a team of COPD health professionals visit Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Newbridge and Mullingar to offer free spirometry testing – a simple and painless breathing test. Full details of locations and dates can be found at www.Copd.Ie.

Spirometry is where a person breathes into a device called a spirometer, which measures the amount of air a person can blow out of their lungs in one second, and the total amount of air a person can blow out, to see if there is an obstruction to breathing air out of the lungs.

The test will be performed by a respiratory physiologist, with a specialist healthcare professional also on hand to provide health information and advise people on next steps. COPD Support Ireland advises anyone with symptoms of breathlessness and ongoing cough, with or without phlegm, to ask their GP about having a spirometry test performed. GP practices in many places around the country now have direct access to HSE Spirometry Services testing in their local Integrated Care Hubs.

Associate Professor Stanley Miller, Consultant Respiratory Physician and Chair of COPD Support Ireland said the "diagnosis of COPD is made by identifying the symptoms of shortness of breath and long-standing cough, with or without phlegm, along with a risk factor such as smoking, and then confirming the diagnosis with a breathing test called spirometry. While COPD is not curable, it is treatable. By combining health professional management with self-management strategies, people with COPD can go a long way to living the life they wish to live."

TV celebrity cook and COPD Support Ireland ambassador, Catherine Leyden, said being diagnosed with COPD was tough but she hopes to one day get back on the golf course:

"I was a lifelong smoker. I started late, at the age of 21, but I became completely addicted. Back then, it was trendy to smoke and I would have been smoking up to 60 a day. I remember about six years ago I was feeling very breathless and was coughing a lot. I went to the GP who referred me to a consultant. After undertaking some tests, I was told that I had COPD. It was so upsetting.

"COPD has deprived me of taking part in normal family activities. I can't go for walks or play golf because of my shortness of breath. I last played a game of golf eight years ago. If I go for a walk, I keep having to stop to catch my breath. I always make sure to bring my inhaler with me and take a puff when I need it. My goal for the future is to improve my breathing and stay alive. That's why I intend to join a COPD Support Ireland exercise group in the very near future, as I'm told the more I do, the more I will be able to do and, who knows, I may yet get back on the golf course!"

Local COPD Support Ireland support group volunteers are also organising COPD & Me information stands in Tallaght, Carlow town, Castlebar, Portlaoise, Drogheda, Sligo, Galway, and Waterford city. Local volunteers will be on hand to provide details of local COPD support and exercise groups and other COPD information.

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