The first sign of emphysema is shortness of breath when you are exerting yourself. Eventually, this shortness of breath may occur even when you are at rest. As the disease progresses, the following symptoms which are related to one of the other major lung diseases also caused by smoking – bronchitis – may occur: Difficulty […]
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If your doctor suspects emphysema, he or she will use the following methods to diagnose and determine the severity of the disease: History and physical examination Chest x-ray and, possibly, a CT scan of your chest Lung function tests Testing for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AAT deficiency) History And Physical Examination The doctor’s examination will include
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There is no cure for emphysema. The goal of treatment is to slow the development of disabling symptoms. The most important step to take is to stop smoking. Treatments for emphysema caused by smoking include medication, breathing retraining, and surgery. People with inherited emphysema due to alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can receive alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (A1PI),
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Here are definitions of medical terms related to bronchoscopy. biopsy: A procedure to remove a small piece of tissue from part of the body for examination under a microscope. “Biopsy” can also mean the tissue sample itself. bronchial tubes, bronchi: The tubes that carry air from the throat (trachea) into the lungs. The larger bronchial tubes branch
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Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on bronchoscopy. American Lung Association http://www.lungusa.org 1-800-LUNG-USA A good site for easy-to-understand information about many different lung diseases. It doesn’t have any information on bronchoscopy itself, though. After getting a diagnosis, come here to find out more about treatment and prevention. The Virtual Hospital, a
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Here are definitions of medical terms related to bronchitis. Alveoli: Tiny sac-like airspaces in the lungs where carbon dioxide from the body is exchanged for oxygen from outside the body. Bronchial tubes, bronchi: Larger air passages in the lung, usually closer to the throat Bronchioles: Smaller air passages in the lung Bronchoconstriction: Tightening of the muscles of the surrounding
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Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on bronchitis. American Lung Association Phone: (800) 586-4872 http://www.lungusa.org National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute Information Center Phone: (301) 251-1222 http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/index.htm The American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org/ The professional association for the family practice doctors in the U.S. They have a good selection of
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Bronchoscopy (pronounced “brahn KAH skoh pee”) is a medical procedure that allows a doctor to see inside a person’s airways. The airways are called the bronchial tubes or bronchi. In this procedure, the doctor inserts a small tube called a bronchoscope through the nose or mouth. The tip of this tube is lighted, so the
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A doctor will suggest a bronchoscopy if he or she needs to see inside your airways or remove something from them. Knowing the condition of your airways helps the doctor prescribe the right treatment, so you can start breathing better. This procedure is often used to help diagnose diseases like asthma, lung cancer, bronchitis, and
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Before the bronchoscopy (usually a day or two before), the doctor will usually test your blood and urine. You may also need to have a chest x-ray or CT scan. A CT scan is a painless, sophisticated x-ray procedure that uses a computer to provide images of soft tissue, bone, and blood vessels. Tell your
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Most people are awake during this procedure. You will have medicine to help you relax and to numb your throat. The bronchoscopy itself usually takes about 20 minutes. This is what usually happens during bronchoscopy: First, you’ll take medicine to help you relax. A nurse will start an IV (intravenous) needle in your arm. The
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Bronchoscopy does not usually cause any complications. For the first day or so, you might have these symptoms: Mild fever (less than 101 degrees F, 38.3 degrees C) Hoarseness Coughing up small amounts of blood (less than a tablespoon) You can take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil) for these symptoms. Avoid
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