Emphysema: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Emphysema is a progressive type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that causes the gradual breakdown of lung tissue, specifically the tiny air sacs in the lungs. According to the American Lung Association, over 3 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with emphysema. If you’re finding it hard to breathe easy, the pulmonology team at Beaufort Memorial can help.

Call 843-707-8040 to schedule an appointment with a member of our pulmonology team.

What Is Emphysema?

As you breathe, the alveoli, or stretchy air sacs in the lungs, inflate and deflate. As this happens, the blood vessels that cover the alveoli transport oxygen-rich blood to the heart. When a person develops emphysema, the air sacs lose their elasticity and aren’t able to inflate like they should. 

If these small sacs are damaged or burst, air can become trapped in the damaged lung tissue, making it difficult for oxygen and carbon dioxide to flow in and out of the body. Over time, breathing becomes more difficult as the lungs overfill with trapped air.

Causes and Risk Factors of Emphysema

The main cause of developing emphysema is smoking, making it a highly preventable condition. Other causes for developing emphysema include air pollutants, other types of respiratory infections and a rare inherited condition that causes deficiency in a lung-protecting protein called a1-antitrypsin deficiency.

Risk factors for emphysema can include:

• Age; lung emphysema often affects older adults
• Genetic history of COPD or a-1 antitrypsin deficiency
• Long-term exposure to lung irritants, including secondhand smoke, air pollutants, and workplace exposure to chemicals and dust
• Smoking

Emphysema Signs and Symptoms

Lung emphysema symptoms often develop slowly, with mild symptoms gradually becoming more severe over time. People with emphysema often experience:

• Chest tightness
• Coughing, often with mucus
• Frequent respiratory infections, such as colds and the flu
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing, a whistling or squeaking sound when they breathe

In severe cases, symptoms can also include weight loss and weakness and/or swelling in the lower extremities.

Treating Emphysema

There are a variety of tests used to diagnose lung emphysema. The pulmonology team might order:

• Arterial blood gas test
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Imaging studies of the chest
• Lung function tests
• Pulse oximetry
• Spirometry

Based on the results of these tests and your symptoms, our doctors can diagnose and determine the stage of your emphysema. Stages of emphysema range from stage 1 (mild) to stages 2 (moderate), 3 (severe) and 4 (very severe). 

Emphysema cannot be cured, but the pulmonologists at Beaufort Memorial can prescribe treatments to ease your symptoms. Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, avoiding secondhand smoke and other lung irritants, eating a healthier diet and increasing physical activity, can help. Treatment of emphysema might also include:

• Anti-inflammatory medication to reduce airway inflammation
• Bronchodilators to relax the muscles around the lungs
• Oxygen therapy to assist with breathing

If emphysema becomes severe, your doctor may recommend surgical removal of diseased lung tissue.

If you’re finding it hard to catch your breath, talk to the pulmonology team at Beaufort Memorial. Our medical experts are highly skilled at diagnosing and treating people with emphysema.