Emphysema symptoms

What are the beginning signs of emphysema? How do you treat the four stages of emphysema? Can early emphysema be reversed? If you have shortness of breath even after the slightest activity, this may be a symptom of emphysema.

WebMD describes the signs and symptoms of this chronic lung disease.

In people with emphysema , the air sacs in the lungs (alveoli) are damaged. Over time, the inner walls of the air sacs weaken and rupture — creating larger air spaces instead of many small ones. Early symptoms may appear gradually as shortness of breath and on. Emphysema usually occurs with with chronic bronchitis. The most common cause of emphysema is long term cigarette smoking.

During the early stages of emphysema , most people will have few symptoms. The disease usually progresses slowly.

Changes in breathing may be hardly noticed. A typical person will not experience symptoms until they have smoked a pack of cigarettes per day for more than years. COPD makes it hard to breathe.

Learn about symptoms and treatment. Doctors describe how bad your emphysema is by using what they call “stages. Some people have emphysema for years without knowing it. Shortness of breath is the most common symptom of emphysema. Cough, sometimes caused by the production of mucus, and wheezing may also be symptoms of emphysema.

You may notice that your tolerance for exercise decreases over time. There are other genetic conditions that can cause emphysema , but these are rare in comparison to smoking. Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic cause of emphysema.

Other emphysema symptoms and signs. The condition is a leading cause of disability and death. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD.

You can have emphysema for many years without noticing any signs or symptoms.

In severe emphysema , the walls of the air sacs in the lungs called the alveoli are weakened and rupture, creating larger air spaces – this is known as hyperinflation. It has genetic causes and can be worsened or brought on by smoking. Because the onset of the disease is gradual, many cases are not diagnosed until irreversible damage has occurred.

Episodes of worsening symptoms (called exacerbations) are common in patients who have emphysema. The main symptoms include shortness of breath and cough with sputum production. Eventually, everyday activities such as walking or getting dressed become difficult. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are older terms used for different types of COPD. There may be no symptoms for a long time and you may not know that you have emphysema.

As the emphysema in your lungs becomes worse then symptoms will develop.