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| Emphysema Treatment |
Question:
What kind of treatment is available for emphysema?
Answer:
The goal of treatment is to provide relief of
symptoms and prevent progression of the disease with a minimum of side effects. The
doctor's advice and treatment may include:
-Quitting smoking: the single most important factor for
maintaining healthy lungs.
-Bronchodilator drugs (prescription drugs that relax and
open air passages in the lungs): may be prescribed to treat
emphysema if there is a tendency toward airway constriction or
tightening. These drugs may be inhaled as aerosol sprays or taken orally.
-Antibiotics: if you have a bacterial infection, such as
pneumococcal pneumonia.
-Exercise: including breathing exercises to strengthen the
muscles used in breathing as part of a pulmonary rehabilitation
program to condition the rest of the body.
-Treatment: with Alpha 1-Proteinase Inhibitor (A1PI) only
if a person has AAT deficiency-related emphysema. A1PI is not recommended for those who develop emphysema as a result of cigarette smoking or other environmental factors.
-Lung transplantation: most recent reports have been
encouraging and the success rate continues to increase.
-Lung reduction surgery: this new technique shows promise.
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