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| Information On Emphysema |
Question:
Looking for some information on emphysema?
Answer:
Affecting an estimated two million Americans, emphysema is a chronic
respiratory condition, nearly always caused by the destruction of lung
tissue by toxins contained in cigarette smoke. This in turn leads to
chronic overinflation of the lungs, greatly decreasing their ability to
function.
Like chronic bronchitis, emphysema is a chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) that evolves over a period of time. Specifically,
emphysema destroys the structural architecture of the lungs and results
in destruction of the alveoli, the approximately three million tiny air
sacs in the lungs. Oxygen is delivered to the lungs and carbon dioxide
is carried from the lungs across the walls of the alveoli; as more and
more alveoli are damaged, it becomes harder and harder for the lungs to
function, causing one or more of the following symptoms:
-Shortness of breath
-Increasing difficulty exercising
-Great difficulty exhaling
-Chronic coughing
-Tiredness and fatigue
-Chest pain
For additional information on emphsema chech out the
Emphysema American Lung Association 1-800-LUNG-USA
http://www.lungusa.org/diseases/lungemphysem.html
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