answersLogoWhite

0

it slowly kills you. ---- Emphysema is most often caused by long term exposure to cigarette smoke, or exposure to other irritants (people who used to work in coal mines often develop emphysema).

The irritants gradually damage the alveoli in the lungs, destroying their elasticity and shape. This results in a smaller surface area for gas exchange between the alveoli and blood vessels to take place. This results in less oxygen being absorbed and delivered to body tissues. The person with emphysema will therefore get very short of breath very quickly when carrying out day to day activities.

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

Is emphysema caused from a person's lifestyle?

NO, emphysema cannot be solely blamed on a person's lifestyle. Emphysema is caused by any of a number of lung irritants, which affect the alveoli and trigger the production of excess phlegm.


How does emphysema affect your life?

Emphysema is a disease that destroys the tiny air sacs in your lungs. In this case it can even cause lung cancer. A person with advanced emphysema uses 80% of his/her energy to breathe.


Would a person with emphysema have trouble climbing stairs?

Yes


Quit smoking will emphysema get worse?

Emphysema is a disease which does tend to get worse once it appears. However, it will get worse faster if a person continues to smoke.


What happens if you smoke chronic?

You can develop lung caner and or emphysema, both which are deadly diseases.


What happens to blood gases in a patient with emphysema?

Decreased Oxygen, increased CO2, Acidosis


Do people with emphysema have a higher or lower breathing rate than someone who does not have the disease?

Emphysema causes a higher breathing rate. A person with emphysema can be "air hungry" even when getting external oxygen by mask or cannula.


What happens if you have emphysema and you keep on smoking?

ANY lung irritant, like smoking, (or bon fires, air pollution, 2nd hand smoke, etc.) will all continue to worsen emphysema. Emphysema is chronic, though. The damage is already present and will worsen.


What type of condition is emphysema?

The name is emphysema , not emophysema . It causes destruction in the alveoli in our lungs .So the affected person can't breathe properly and hyperventilation occurs .


Can having emphysema cause seizures?

During the usual course of emphysema, a person who has never had seizures before will not have any seizures. A person could or might have a seizure if they experience a severe impairment in the ability to breathe--such as if they contracted pneumonia on top of the emphysema--and had even less O2. But generally, emphysema is just a chronic lung disease characterized by inflammation, increased phlegm and coughing, and impaired gas exchange.


Is THC really a cure for Emphysema?

There is no cure for emphysema-- except lung or heart-lung transplant (which likely would not be done). THC will NOT cure emphysema. The person using THC just won't care as much that they can't get air-- and, because of that effect on the body/brain, the person could stop breathing from THC.


How does emphysema affect vital capacity?

Emphysema's effect on vital capacity increases as the disease progresses. Emphysema is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) which obstructs the passage of air out of the lungs. As a person exhales with emphysema, the airways close prematurely which reduces the exhalation volume thus reducing vital capacity.