Emphysema is one among the several lung disorders. This is caused due to cigarette smoking, but other causes include work-related exposure, air pollution and secondhand smoke also play vital role in the development of emphysema. In this condition, air sacs or alveoli which are located deep in the lungs may become damaged and burst eventually. These leave large holes which trap air in the lungs.
If air is trapped, it is difficult to exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen, that results in low oxygen and results in high levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. Though, emphysema doesn’t have a cure, treatment aims at slowing down the disease progress and treats the obstructed airways which give relief from hypoxia and enhances quality of life.
Non-Medication Related Treatment for Emphysema:
For supporting the goals of emphysema treatment, non-pharmacological treatments include those kinds of treatments which do not involve drug, but that can effectively improve the outcomes of the patient.
- Oxygen Therapy: This may be administered continuously to relieve or during activity for relieving of shortness of breath. Oxygen therapy for long duration has increased the survival rates in people suffering from COPD and aids in preserving the function of all important organs.
Generally, long-term oxygen therapy is started in stage 4 COPD for people who show low blood oxygen or low oxygen saturation levels.
- Smoking Cessation: This remains single and is the most important aspect in the treatment, but is overlooked.
- Surgical Intervention: Presently, three types of lung surgery are performed in the final stage of emphysema in people with serious symptoms not improved by medicines. Following are the three surgeries:
- Lung Transplant
- Lung Volume Reduction Surgery
- Bullectomy
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Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Through exercise, assessment, psychological support and education, the aims of pulmonary rehabilitation are to decrease the symptoms and enhance the quality of life and increase the emotional and physical participation in the daily activities. Briefly, this aids in reducing overall health-care costs in the COPD population. Following are some of the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation:
- Enhances upper body endurance and strength
- Decreases depression and anxiety
- Decreases the number of hospitalizations associated with COPD and duration of stay
- Enhances quality of life and health status
- Decreases the intensity of breathlessness
- Enhances exercise tolerance
Medication Management:
Presently, drug treatments are not available which are effective in changing the decline rate of lung functioning for people with emphysema. However, a few medications are available for the emphysema treatment, that helps to abolish or reduce the symptoms, reduce the frequency and number of COPD exacerbations, enhances overall health status and increase exercise tolerance.
Following are the common medications for treating emphysema:
- Vaccines
- Antibiotics
- Glucocorticoids
- Bronchodilators
