What is emphysema?
Q: What is emphysema?
A: Emphysema is a disease that affects the lungs.
Q: What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A: COPD is a set of diseases where the flow of air in the lungs is obstructed.
Q: What causes emphysema?
A: Emphysema is most often caused by smoking but can also be caused by other diseases or have no known cause at all.
Q: What happens in the lungs in a person with emphysema?
A: In a person with emphysema, the very small air sacs at the ends of the airways in the lungs start to break down from many sacs to form much bigger sacs, making it hard for people to blow air out of the lungs and creating the characteristic "barrel chest" of emphysema.
Q: Is there a cure for emphysema?
A: No, there is no cure for emphysema.
Q: What treatments are used for emphysema?
A: Treatment for emphysema includes stopping smoking and taking medicines like "broncho-dilators" and sometimes corticosteroids. Supplemental oxygen is recommended for those with low oxygen levels at rest, and it may improve people's ability to exercise.
Q: What are the risks associated with oxygen supplementation for those with emphysema?
A: There is a risk of fires and little benefit when those on oxygen continue to smoke.
