Diseases » Emphysema » Summary

What is Emphysema?

What is Emphysema?

Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is a chronic, ongoing, progressive disease of the lower respiratory tract in the ...more »

• Emphysema: Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is defined as an abnormal, permanent enlargement of the air spaces distal to the terminal bronchioles accompanied by destruction of their walls and without obvious fibrosis.
• Emphysema: A subcategory of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It occurs in people who smoke and suffer from chronic bronchitis. It is characterized by inflation of the alveoli, alveolar wall damage, and reduction in the number of alveoli, resulting in difficulty breathing. Alveoli are the vital lung structures where the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. -- 2004
  Source - Diseases Database
• Emphysema: an abnormal condition of the lungs marked by decreased respiratory function; associated with smoking or chronic bronchitis or old age.
  Source - WordNet 2.1

Emphysema: Introduction

Types of Emphysema:

Types of Emphysema:

• Smoker’s emphysema - common form, also called nonfamilial emphysema; about 15-20% of smokers get Emphysema
• Familial emphysema - a rare genetic inherited form, often arising earlier (30's or 40's).
• more types...»

Broader types of Emphysema:

• Respiratory conditions
• Lung conditions
• Chronic lower respiratory diseases
• COPD
• Chest conditions
• Asthma-like conditions
• Senior health conditions
• Smoking-related conditions
• more types...»

How many people get Emphysema?

Prevalance of Emphysema: 2 million Americans (NHLBI); 17 per 1000 - NHIS95; 2 million annually
Prevalance Rate of Emphysema: approx 1 in 136 or 0.74% or 2 million people in USA [about data]
Lifetime risk of Emphysema: 1.4% of noninstitutionalised people (3.1 million people) have ever been diagnosed with emphysema in the US 2002 (Summary Health Statistics for US Adults, 2002, NCHS, CDC)

Who gets Emphysema?

Patient Profile for Emphysema: Older adults (mostly smokers)

Profile for Emphysema: In the general population, emphysema usually develops in older individuals with a long smoking history. (Source: excerpt from Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema: NHLBI)

How serious is Emphysema?

Prognosis of Emphysema: Emphysema is an irreversible degenerative condition. The most important measure to slow its progression is for the patient to stop smoking and avoid all exposure to cigarette smoke and lung irritants. Pulmonary rehabilitation can be very helpful to optimize the patient's quality of life.
Complications of Emphysema: see complications of Emphysema
Deaths for Emphysema: 17,787 deaths reported in USA 1999 (NVSR Sep 2001)

What causes Emphysema?

Causes of Emphysema: see causes of Emphysema
Risk factors for Emphysema: see risk factors for Emphysema

What are the symptoms of Emphysema?

Symptoms of Emphysema: see symptoms of Emphysema

Complications of Emphysema: see complications of Emphysema

Emphysema: Testing

Diagnostic testing: see tests for Emphysema.

Misdiagnosis: see misdiagnosis and Emphysema.

How is it treated?

Treatments for Emphysema: see treatments for Emphysema
Alternative treatments for Emphysema: see alternative treatments for Emphysema
Prevention of Emphysema: see prevention of Emphysema
Research for Emphysema: see research for Emphysema

Society issues for Emphysema

Hospitalizations for Emphysema: 24,000 (NHLBI 1999)

Hospitalization statistics for Emphysema: The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Emphysema:

• 1.8% (229,725) of hospital episodes were for chronic lower respiratory diseases in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 72% of hospital consultations for chronic lower respiratory diseases required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 49% of hospital episodes for chronic lower respiratory diseases were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 51% of hospital episodes for chronic lower respiratory diseases were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• more statistics...»

Physician office visits for Emphysema: 208,000 (NHLBI 1999)

Organs Affected by Emphysema:

Organs and body systems related to Emphysema include:

• Lung
• Respiratory
• Alveoli

Name and Aliases of Emphysema

Main name of condition: Emphysema

Other names or spellings for Emphysema:

pulmonary emphysema, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Chronic Obstructive Lung disease

MacLeod syndrome [Unilateral pulmonary emphysema], Swyer-James syndrome [Unilateral pulmonary emphysema] Source - Diseases Database

Pulmonary emphysema, Emphysema
Source - WordNet 2.1

Emphysema: Related Conditions

Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Emphysema:

• Chronic bronchitis
• Allergic alveolitis
• Emphysema
• Asthma
• Aspergillosis
• Tuberculosis
• Lung abscess
• Pleural effusion
• Pneumothorax
• Flail chest
• Lung collase
• Lung fibrosis
• Pneumoconiosis

 » Next page: Prevalence and Incidence of Emphysema

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