How to prevent Emphysema

                                             

      Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term used in describing progressive lung diseases and Emphysema falls under this COPD.

Emphysema is a type of COPD involving damage to the air sacs in the lungs and as a result your body does not get the oxygen it needs.

Emphysema causes perpetual breathing problems and makes it hard to catch your breathe. Emphysema can make you develop a chronic cough and have trouble breathing during exercise.

As the disease increases, your alveoli swell up and trap air inside making it difficult to breathe normally or engage in activities that require respiration.

To prevent emphysema, you will need to avoid substances that damage the lungs.

Let's look at pertinent measures to prevent emphysema ;

Quit smoking 

       Though other factors may contribute to developing emphysema, but smoking is seen to be the recognized cause of emphysema and other types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This is because smoking damages the lungs.

The best way to avoid emphysema is to avoid smoking, more better if you have not started it. If it turns out to be that you smoke already, quitting can help you avoid developing emphysema as well as improve your health.

Smoking has been the cause of 80% to 90% of all reported cases of emphysema. When you quit smoking, there's an immediate improvement in your circulation and your lungs will also be able to make some repairs to the damage caused by smoking.

When you've decided to quit smoking, it's best to stop at all cost because smoking on occasions can still cause some damage to the lungs. Remind yourself everyday reasons why it's worth to quit.

It's not so easy to quit smoking, you can let your family and friends in on your decision so they can always render their support to you.

Avoid secondary smoking

       This is the smoke you inhale from another person's tobacco smoking. Though you don't smoke, but when you keep inhaling the smoke from another person's tobacco, you're partially smoking and it can cause problems to your health.

A reported average of 25% of non-smokers who developed emphysema grew up around people who smoke.

If you live or spend time with someone who smokes, you can politely ask the person not to smoke where you are, or for the best you can leave the person that moment he/she wants to smoke.

Avoid exposure to hazardous conditions 

       About 15% - 25% of non-smokers who develope emphysema are exposed to hazardous conditions in the workplace or elsewhere. Hazards can damage the lungs just as smoking does.

You can avoid or reduce your chances of developing emphysema and other respiratory problems by limiting your exposure to those conditions or avoiding them if possible. There are many things or situations that can be likened to hazardous conditions.

Industrial dust from wood, cotton, coal, silica, talc, metal, fiberglass, pesticides, grain, and coffee can cause emphysema.

Smoke from any burning organic material can cause emphysema. Firefighters seem to develop emphysema often due to occupational exposure to smoke.

Fumes from metal that has been heated  are a frequent cause of emphysema. If you work in welding, smelting, furnace, pottery, plastics, or rubber manufacturing, you can protect yourself by taking every precautionary measures.

Gaseous vapors produced by solvents and other liquids can irritate the nose and throat, and can eventually cause emphysema.

Look out for these hazardous conditions and protect yourself from them.

Take safety precautions in hazardous work environments 

          It may be that you cannot avoid exposure to hazardous conditions in your workplace totally, but you can take safety precautions to limit your exposure. Safety equipments like respirators and ventilation systems can help reduce the much hazard your lungs are exposed to.

Wear a respirator whenever you're exposed to hazardous conditions. Be sure it's fitted properly so it will do it's work effectively.

You can persuade your superiors to increase ventilation in the workplace explaining to them danger the hazards pose.

Let your superiors in on your concerns regarding the workplace, with your interest at heart they may put you in a position that less exposes you to such hazardous conditions.

If possible, you can quit the job, to avoid taking any risk.

Know the symptoms of emphysema 

        If you have been a smoker or you expose yourself to hazardous conditions, you may be at risk of developing emphysema.

Knowing the symptoms, you can prevent or avoid developing emphysema. You'll go to see your doctor once you notice any symptom of emphysema, that way you can spot and fight it in its early stages.

Here are the symptoms of emphysema;

* Wheezing and shortness of breath

* Long-term severe cough

* Having difficulty performing light exercise

* Long-term production of mucus (usually yellow         or greenish mucus)

But if you have you developed emphysema already, how can you manage it???

Stick around and anticipate our next post.............

If you've got any thing you know about emphysema, don't hesitate to share with us.

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