EMPHYSEMA

Emphysema gradually damages the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs, making you progressively
more short of breath. Emphysema is one of several diseases known collectively as chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Your lungs' alveoli are clustered like bunches of grapes. In emphysema, the inner walls of the
air sacs weaken and eventually rupture creating one larger air space instead of many small ones.
This reduces the surface area of the lungs and, in turn, the amount of oxygen that reaches your
bloodstream.
When you exhale, the damaged alveoli don't work properly and old air becomes trapped, leaving no
room for fresh, oxygen-rich air to enter. Treatment may slow the progression of emphysema, but it
can't reverse the damage.
See your doctor if you've had unexplained shortness of breath for several months, especially if
it's getting worse or it's interfering with your daily activities. Don't try to attribute it to your
deconditioning or age or weight. Seek immediate medical attention if youre so short of breath, you
can't climb stairs, your lips or fingernails turn blue or gray with exertion and you're not mentally alert.
Smoking is the leading cause of emphysema. The main cause of emphysema is long-term
exposure to airborne irritants, including: tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke, air pollution, and
manufacturing fumes. Rarely, emphysema is caused by an inherited deficiency of a protein that
protects the elastic structures in the lungs. It's called alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency emphysema.
Emphysema can't be cured, but treatments can help relieve symptoms and slow the
progression of the disease. Depending upon the severity of your symptoms, your doctor might
suggest: bronchodilators, inhaled steroids and antibiotics. If you develop a bacterial infection, like
acute bronchitis or pneumonia, antibiotics are appropriate. Depending on the severity of your
emphysema, your doctor may suggest one or more different types of surgery, including: Lung volume
reduction surgery or Lung transplant.

Asthma
Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and produce extra mucus. This
can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. For some
people, asthma is a minor nuisance. For others, it can be a major problem that interferes with daily
activities and may lead to a life-threatening asthma attack.
Asthma can't be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled. Because asthma often changes
over time, it's important that you work with your doctor to track your signs and symptoms and adjust
treatment as needed. Asthma symptoms range from minor to severe and vary from person to person.
You may have infrequent asthma attacks, have symptoms only at certain times such as when
exercising or have symptoms all the time. Asthma signs and symptoms include: Shortness of
breath Chest tightness or pain Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
A whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling (wheezing is a common sign of asthma in children)
Coughing or wheezing attacks that are worsened by a respiratory virus, such as a cold or the flu
Exposure to various substances that trigger allergies (allergens) and irritants can trigger signs
and symptoms of asthma. Asthma triggers are different from person to person and can include:
airborne allergens, such as pollen, animal dander, mold, cockroaches and dust mites, respiratory
infections, such as the common cold, physical activity (exercise-induced asthma), cold air and air
pollutants and irritants, such as smoke
The right medications for you depend on a number of things, including your age, your
symptoms, your asthma triggers and what seems to work best to keep your asthma under control.
Preventive, long-term control medications reduce the inflammation in your airways that leads to
symptoms. Quick-relief inhalers (bronchodilators) quickly open swollen airways that are limiting
breathing. In some cases, allergy medications are necessary.
Long-term asthma control medications, generally taken daily, are the cornerstone of asthma
treatment. These medications keep asthma under control on a day-to-day basis and make it less
likely you'll have an asthma attack.

Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes, which carry air to
and from your lungs. People who have bronchitis often cough up thickened mucus, which can be
discolored. Bronchitis may be either acute or chronic.
Often developing from a cold or other respiratory infection, acute bronchitis is very common.
Chronic bronchitis, is a constant irritation or inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, often
due to smoking.
Acute bronchitis usually improves within a few days without lasting effects, although you may
continue to cough for weeks. However, if you have repeated bouts of bronchitis, you may have
chronic bronchitis, which requires medical attention. Chronic bronchitis is one of the conditions
included in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
For either acute bronchitis or chronic bronchitis, signs and symptoms may include: cough,
production of mucus, fatigue, shortness of breath, slight fever and chills and chest discomfort. If you
have chronic bronchitis, you're likely to have periods when your signs and symptoms worsen. At
those times, you may have acute bronchitis on top of your chronic bronchitis.
Bronchitis is usually caused by viruses, typically the same viruses that cause colds and flu
(influenza). Antibiotics don't kill viruses, so this type of medication isn't useful in most cases of
bronchitis. The most common cause of chronic bronchitis is smoking cigarettes. Air pollution and dust
or toxic gases in the environment or workplace also can contribute to the condition.
Most cases of acute bronchitis resolve without medical treatment in two weeks. In some
circumstances, your doctor may prescribe medications, including: antibiotics, cough medicine and
other medications. If you have allergies, asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
your doctor may recommend an inhaler and other medications to reduce inflammation and open
narrowed passages in your lungs.

COUGH
A cough is your body's way of responding to irritants in your throat and airways. An irritant
stimulates nerves there to send a cough impulse to your brain. The brain signals the muscles of your
abdomen and chest wall to give a strong push of air to your lungs to try to expel the irritant.
An occasional cough is normal and healthy. A cough that persists for several weeks or one that
brings up discolored or bloody mucus may indicate an underlying condition that requires medical
attention. A cough rarely requires emergency care.
A coughing attack can be very forceful the velocity of air from a vigorous cough through the
nearly closed vocal cords can approach 500 miles per hour. Prolonged, vigorous coughing is
exhausting and can cause sleeplessness, headaches, urinary incontinence, and even broken ribs.
An occasional cough is normal. But a cough that persists may signal an underlying problem. A
cough is considered "acute" if it lasts less than three weeks; it's "chronic" if it lasts longer than eight
weeks (four weeks in children). Some causes of coughs include: allergies, asthma (most common in
children) bronchitis, common cold, influenza (flu), inhaling an irritant and pneumonia
Call your doctor if your cough doesn't go away after several weeks. to ease your cough, try
these tips: Suck cough drops or hard candies. They may ease a dry cough and soothe an irritated
throat. Don't give them to a child under age 3, however, because they can cause choking. Moisturize
the air. Use a vaporizer or take a hot, steamy shower. Drink fluids. Liquid helps thin the mucus in your
throat. Warm liquids, such as broth, tea or lemon juice and honey in warm water, can soothe your
throat.