Emphysema

Race and gender influence diagnosis of COPD

African-Americans are less likely than whites and women are more likely than men to have had a prior diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) regardless of their current disease severity, according to a new ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created 8 hours ago | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Inflammation is associated with depression in COPD patients

Depression is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has been linked with disease severity and impaired quality of life. Now, for the first time, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created 12 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Treatment with A1-PI slows the progression of emphysema in Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Treatment with an Alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (A1-PI), a naturally occurring protein that protects lung tissue from breakdown and protects the lung's elasticity, is effective in slowing the progression of emphysema in patients ...

Cancer created 14 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Tiny, implantable coil promises hope for emphysema patients

A small, easily implantable device called the Lung Volume Reduction Coil (LVRC) may play a key role in the treatment of two types of emphysema, according to a study conducted in Europe. Results of the study indicate the beneficial ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 20, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

'Black lung is back' researcher says

The dangers of coal mining enter the spotlight periodically when disasters strike, but one West Virginia University researcher argues that coal mine dust exposure, which has caused an increase in the prevalence and severity ...

Health created May 17, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

FDA approves once-a-day inhaler from Glaxo

The Food and Drug Administration says it has approved a new once-a-day inhaler drug from GlaxoSmithKline for patients with chronic lung disease.

Medications created May 10, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Physicians debate whether patients need to know they're dying

In the days when American physicians dispensed oracular commands and their judgments were rarely questioned, a doctor could take it upon himself with few ethical qualms to keep from a patient the bad news of a terminal diagnosis.

Health created Apr 28, 2013 | popularity 3 / 5 (1) | comments 0

US panel backs inhaler drug for lung disease

A panel of U.S. respiratory experts voted Wednesday in favor of approving an experimental inhaler drug from GlaxoSmithKline and Theravance for treating chronic lung disease.

Medications created Apr 17, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Researchers spot molecular control switch for preterm lung disorders

(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have made major discoveries that could lead to new treatments for lung disorders in premature babies. In a mouse study, the team located key molecules ...

Medical research created Mar 20, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Secondhand smoke exposure linked to signs of heart disease

Nonsmokers, beware. It seems the more you are exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke—whether it was during your childhood or as an adult, at work or at home—the more likely you are to develop early signs of heart disease, ...

Cardiology created Mar 07, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Researchers create new air sacs in mouse model of emphysema using novel growth factor

In a study of mice, researchers at Johns Hopkins have identified a new molecular pathway involved in the growth of tiny air sacs called alveoli that are crucial for breathing. The scientists say their experiments may lead ...

Medical research created Feb 14, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Frequently prescribed drug used in concerning ways with harmful side effects

A popular class of drugs commonly used to treat sleep and mood symptoms continues to be frequently prescribed despite being known to have potentially life-threatening side effects.

Medications created Feb 06, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Smoking marijuana associated with higher stroke risk in young adults

Marijuana, the most widely used illicit drug, may double stroke risk in young adults, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2013.

Cardiology created Feb 06, 2013 | popularity 1 / 5 (9) | comments 12 | with audio podcast

Boomers' health fails to measure up to parents'

(HealthDay)—The baby boom is turning out to be a health bust. Despite growing up at a time of great innovation in health care, the 78 million people born in the United States between 1946 and 1964 aren't ...

Health created Feb 04, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

FDA panel backs long-acting Boehringer inhaler

(AP)—A panel of federal health experts is overwhelmingly recommending approval for a long-acting inhaler to treat people suffering from chronic lung disease.

Medications created Jan 29, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD (pulmonary refers to the lungs). Emphysema is called an obstructive lung disease because the destruction of lung tissue around smaller sacs, called alveoli, makes these air sacs unable to hold their functional shape upon exhalation. It is often caused by long-term exposure to air pollution or smoking.

The term emphysema means swelling and comes from the Greek ἐμφυσᾶν emphysan meaning inflate, itself composed of ἐν en meaning in and φυσᾶν physan meaning breath, blast.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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