Emphysema is one of the diseases in which the normal functioning of the lungs is interfered with. It is a well established that if the lung is to perform its functions properly, the tissue that make it up have to maintain a certain physical shape. We have to keep it in mind that the lung is the site at which blood is oxygenated: in other words, a site in which an interchange of gases takes place.
What happens in people with the condition we are making reference to here is that the lung tissue gets destroyed, subsequently losing its ideal physical shape and hence its ability to perform its functions properly. Symptoms will become more observable, and this is our attempt to define what those symptoms are. Be reminded, however, that you cannot expect to witness these symptoms all at once. Rather, they tend to come about progressively: such that a patient starts with one of these symptoms, before advancing to the next one and then to the next one after that.
Now the first major symptom through which the lung disease known as emphysema manifests is that of breathlessness. Since the lung tissue will be experiencing a gradual destruction, that means this disease will also take quite a while before it eventually turns into a full-blown lung disease. Of course, at first, the patient will feel breathless when he or she has to exert a lot of effort in any activity or has to become involved in anything strenous. As the lung tissue continues towards its degradation, any exertion won't even be required for the patient to experience bouts of breathlessness. If left unchecked, it could even reach the point when the patient will start becoming breathless even when he is sitting or standing still. Breathlessness is often deemed to be something that is just normal during the early stages. The only time they decide to go for a consultation and get some treatment would be when things become worse and the symptoms become distressing.
The second major symptom through which the lung disease known as emphysema manifests is that of 'chest expansion.' This is the obvious result of the breathing difficulties associated with the disease. The patient could not breathe properly. Therefore, he has no choice but to expand his chest in order to compensate. You can clearly see signs of the expansion by measuring the antero-posterior diameter of the chest, and when it is bigger than normal, you should be concerned.
The third major symptom through which the lung disease known as emphysema manifests is that of skin discoloration 'or rather, the acquisition of a bluish skin color. It is not only emphysema that manifests this symptom. Lung diseases that involve lack of blood oxygenation will be showing this symptom. This lung disease symptom, which is also called cyanosis, takes time to manifest itself. It does not take place all at once. In the beginning, you will barely be able to notice the cyanosis, but that does not mean it will never be noticed. You have to make sure to stage an intervention to make sure it won't become worse.
What happens in people with the condition we are making reference to here is that the lung tissue gets destroyed, subsequently losing its ideal physical shape and hence its ability to perform its functions properly. Symptoms will become more observable, and this is our attempt to define what those symptoms are. Be reminded, however, that you cannot expect to witness these symptoms all at once. Rather, they tend to come about progressively: such that a patient starts with one of these symptoms, before advancing to the next one and then to the next one after that.
Now the first major symptom through which the lung disease known as emphysema manifests is that of breathlessness. Since the lung tissue will be experiencing a gradual destruction, that means this disease will also take quite a while before it eventually turns into a full-blown lung disease. Of course, at first, the patient will feel breathless when he or she has to exert a lot of effort in any activity or has to become involved in anything strenous. As the lung tissue continues towards its degradation, any exertion won't even be required for the patient to experience bouts of breathlessness. If left unchecked, it could even reach the point when the patient will start becoming breathless even when he is sitting or standing still. Breathlessness is often deemed to be something that is just normal during the early stages. The only time they decide to go for a consultation and get some treatment would be when things become worse and the symptoms become distressing.
The second major symptom through which the lung disease known as emphysema manifests is that of 'chest expansion.' This is the obvious result of the breathing difficulties associated with the disease. The patient could not breathe properly. Therefore, he has no choice but to expand his chest in order to compensate. You can clearly see signs of the expansion by measuring the antero-posterior diameter of the chest, and when it is bigger than normal, you should be concerned.
The third major symptom through which the lung disease known as emphysema manifests is that of skin discoloration 'or rather, the acquisition of a bluish skin color. It is not only emphysema that manifests this symptom. Lung diseases that involve lack of blood oxygenation will be showing this symptom. This lung disease symptom, which is also called cyanosis, takes time to manifest itself. It does not take place all at once. In the beginning, you will barely be able to notice the cyanosis, but that does not mean it will never be noticed. You have to make sure to stage an intervention to make sure it won't become worse.