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| Chronic Bronchitis And Emphysema |
Question:
What Are Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema?
Answer:
Chronic bronchitis, one of the two major diseases of the lung grouped
under COPD, is diagnosed when a patient has excessive airway mucus
secretion leading to a persistent, productive cough. An individual is
considered to have chronic bronchitis if cough and sputum are present
on most days for a minimum of 3 months for at least 2 successive years
or for 6 months during 1 year. In chronic bronchitis, there also may
be narrowing of the large and small airways making it more difficult
to move air in and out of the lungs. An estimated 12.1 million
Americans have chronic bronchitis.
In emphysema there is permanent destruction of the alveoli, the tiny
elastic air sacs of the lung, because of irreversible destruction of a
protein in the lung called elastin that is important for maintaining
the strength of the alveolar walls. The loss of elastin also causes
collapse or narrowing of the smallest air passages, called
bronchioles, which in turn limits airflow out of the lung. The number
of individuals with emphysema in the U.S. is estimated to be 2
million.
Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are both grouped under the heading of
"COPD", as is severe asthma -- when it isn't completely reversible in
some asthmatics. However, the major difference
between the two "other" major lung diseases (grouped under COPD,
chronic bronchitis and emphysema) , is chronic bronchitis isn't a
death sentence.
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