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Emphysema is a chronic lung disease. It is often caused by exposure to toxic chemicals or long-term exposure to tobacco smoke.

Signs and symptoms


Emphysema is characterised by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue; destruction of structures supporting the alveoli; and destruction of capillaries feeding the alveoli. The result is that the small airways collapse during expiration, leading to an obstructive form of lung disease (air is trapped in the lungs in obstructive lung diseases). Symptoms are: shortness of breath on exertion--particularly when climbing stairs or inclines (and later at rest), hyperventilation and an expanded chest. As emphysema progresses, clubbing of the fingers may be observed, a feature of longstanding hypoxia.

Emphysema patients are sometimes referred to as "pink puffers". This is because emphysema sufferers may hyperventilate to maintain adequate blood oxygen levels. Hyperventilation explains why emphysema patients do not appear cyanotic as chronic bronchitis (another COPD disorder) sufferers often do; hence they are "pink" puffers (adequate oxygen levels in the blood) and not "blue" bloaters (cyanosis; inadequate oxygen in the blood).

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What Are The Symptoms Of Lung Cancer And Emphysema?: Across the developed world, almost 90% of lung cancer deat.. http://bit.ly/6nK0bK
ARosario525 (Anton R.) Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:15:16 -0000
What Are The Symptoms Of Lung Cancer And Emphysema?: Across the developed world, almost 90% of lung cancer deat.. http://bit.ly/6nK0bK
Remarkable Recovery from Emphysema with the Natural One Minute Cure simple therapy...http://e0034d2cdzz3lj7ln5kyau5lbt.hop.clickbank.net/
unmemom (Kay Morgan) Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:40:23 -0000
Remarkable Recovery from Emphysema with the Natural One Minute Cure simple therapy...http://e0034d2cdzz3lj7ln5kyau5lbt.hop.clickbank.net/
@Ohai_Im_Tyler Yeah, my aunt got emphysema from smoking.. never been tempted to smoke.
Arengeir (Arengeir) Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:18:19 -0000
@Ohai_Im_Tyler Yeah, my aunt got emphysema from smoking.. never been tempted to smoke.
RT @RyanStegman: My car just died. I'm afraid she's gone for good. http://twitpic.com/u2cz5 --- emphysema?
tommydacomicguy (Tommy Patterson) Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:57:29 -0000
RT @RyanStegman: My car just died. I'm afraid she's gone for good. http://twitpic.com/u2cz5 --- emphysema?
@AliciaWag Oh, that sucks! I'm in the same boat w/ my Mom, she has COPD and emphysema, and I feel like shit b/c she did catch what I have.
disasterpiece73 (Danyiel ) Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:55:43 -0000
@AliciaWag Oh, that sucks! I'm in the same boat w/ my Mom, she has COPD and emphysema, and I feel like shit b/c she did catch what I have.
RT @SoarFeat: Emphysema IS THE affliction whereby a person emphasizes things inappropriately.
calshakes (Cal Shakes) Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:38:05 -0000
RT @SoarFeat: Emphysema IS THE affliction whereby a person emphasizes things inappropriately.

 
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Ask Dr Stoll - An article about emphysema patients pulmonary function improving by very gentle rebounding.

Center for Chest Disease and Respiratory Failure - Discussion of volume reduction surgery to improve emphysema.
Meta Description: [ What is Lung Volume Reduction Surgery (LVRS)? Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) is a surgical procedure where damaged lung tissue is removed. This surgery can be performed by either median sternotomy or video-assisted thoracic technique. The LeBuhn Center for Lung Failure has pioneered lung v... ]

Drug InfoNet - FAQs about emphysema.

eMedicine Health - Emphysema - Consumer health resource center providing information on the causes, symptoms, and treatment.
Meta Description: [ Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lung that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the lung tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function ... ]

Every Breath You Take - Information about preventing and treating emphysema from US Food and Drug Administration.
Meta Description: [ When you or someone you love has been diagnosed with emphysema, knowing that help is available to counter and control its effects provides solace and hope. ]

Facts About Emphysema - Information from the American Lung Association of Georgia.
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HealthWorld Online - Signs, symptoms, and treatment of emphysema.
Meta Description: [ HealthWorld Online is the Internet's leading resource on alternative medicine, wellness, and mind/body health, featuring the Wellness Inventory whole person assessment program, the Healthy Shopping Network, Find a Practitioner Network, Healthy Update e-newsletter, and thousands of expert articles... ]

International Health News Database - Summaries of the latest research concerning fish oils and emphysema and cystic fibrosis.
Meta Description: [ Summaries of the latest research concerning fish oils and emphysema/cystic fibrosis ]

Med Help - A look at the causes, symptoms, and treatment for emphysema.
Meta Description: [ Emphysema ]

National Emphysema Foundation - Information about the organization that is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with emphysema, asthma and related diseases. Included are featured articles and resources.

National Jewish Medical and Research Center - Definition, diagnosis, and treatment for inherited emphysema.
Meta Description: [ Learn about alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency or inherited emphysema including diagnosis, treatment and management, and what the future holds. ]

National Trial Begins For Controversial Lung Surgery For Emphysema - Article from ScienceDaily Magazine about medical researchers investigating whether removing portions of lungs can provide long-term benefit to patients severely disabled.
Meta Description: [ Medical researchers hope that an unusual clinical trial will prove whether or not removing portions of lungs can provide long-term benefit to patients severely disabled by emphysema, a progressive lung disease for which there is no other cure. ]

NETT - The first multi-center clinical trial designed to determine the role, safety, and effectiveness of bilateral lung volume reduction surgery in the treatment of emphysema.
Meta Description: [ The first multi-center clinical trial designed to determine the role, safety, and effectiveness of bilateral lung volume reduction surgery in the treatment of emphysema ]

Personal MD - A description of emphysema as well as a look at the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
Meta Description: [ Personalized Medical Information ans Services ]

The Lung Association - An explanation of what happens with emphysema including explanatory diagrams.

The Overholt-Blue Cross Emphysema Surgery Trial - A multicenter randomized clinical trial on lung volume reduction surgery.

WebMD Inc. - A look at emphysema with an introduction, a look at the symptoms, causes and treatments.

Emphysema related videos
Evelio: Amy Winehouse has Emphysema!!!
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