Hi Billie Ann,
I noticed your other questions posted on Google Answers regarding your
dear Mom's illness, and I commend you for taking on the huge task of
writing a book on a subject so close to your heart.
In reference to why your Mom lived so long with emphysema and is it normal...
People with mild emphysema who quit smoking have a normal life
expectancy. Those who follow treatment instructions and adopt good
health habits can enjoy a fairly normal lifestyle for a long time.
Individual emphysema cases vary and many patients can live much longer
with supplemental oxygen and other treatment measures.
In addition to quitting smoking in the early stages of emphysema,
which can reverse and also slow down the rate of decline of lung
function in later stages things that might have contributed to her
longevity might include:
Environmental changes - If your doctor believes that your COPD is
caused by work-related exposure to dusts or chemicals, he or she will
recommend that you change jobs. In general, people with COPD also
should avoid exposure to outdoor air pollution, secondhand smoke and
airborne toxins (deodorants, hair sprays, insecticides) in the home.
Medications - Doctors generally prescribe medications that open up the
airways, called bronchodilators, taken as a spray that is inhaled or
in pill form. Antibiotics also may be necessary to treat acute
respiratory infections, such as bacterial pneumonia. Corticosteroids
may be given to reduce airway inflammation, especially during a
flare-up.
Exercise programs - Regular exercise builds stamina and will improve
your quality of life, even if it does not directly improve lung
function. Pulmonary-rehabilitation programs have been shown to lower
the need for hospitalization.
Good nutrition - A balanced diet can help maintain stamina and improve
resistance against infection. Also, getting enough water and other
fluids can help to keep mucus watery and easy to drain.
Supplemental oxygen - If your lungs are not getting enough oxygen into
your blood, oxygen therapy can improve your quality of life, increase
your ability to exercise, help to relieve heart failure, prolong life,
improve mental function and lift your spirits.
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/32172/32179/226721.html?d=dmtHealthAZ
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More than likely, your mother and her doctor worked closely together,
so that she could live more comfortably - both in providing relief for
her symptoms and preventing progression the disease.
The American Lung Association:
http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35043
If an individual has emphysema, the doctor will work hard to prevent
the disease from getting worse by keeping the patient healthy and
clear of any infection. The patient can participate in this prevention
effort by following these general health guidelines:
Emphysema is a serious disease. It damages your lungs, and it can
damage your heart. See your doctor at the first sign of symptoms.
DON'T SMOKE. The majority of those who get emphysema are smokers.
Continued smoking makes emphysema worse, especially for those who have
AAT deficiency, the inherited form of emphysema.
Maintain overall good health habits, which include proper nutrition,
adequate sleep,and regular exercise to build up your stamina and
resistance to infections.
Reduce your exposure to air pollution, which may aggravate symptoms of
emphysema. Refer to radio or television weather reports or your local
newspaper for information about air quality. On days when the ozone
(smog) level is unhealthy, restrict your activity to early morning or
evening. When pollution levels are dangerous, remain indoors and stay
as comfortable as possible.
Consult your doctor at the start of any cold or respiratory infection
because infection can make your emphysema symptoms worse. Ask about
getting vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia.
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Emphysema Prognosis (Expectations)
http://health.allrefer.com/health/emphysema-prognosis.html
"The outcome is better for patients with less damage to the lung.
However, patients with extensive lung damage may live for many years
so predicting prognosis is difficult. Death may occur from respiratory
failure, pneumonia, or other complications."
According to one study
http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/band98/b98-2.html "About 5-15% of
adults in industrialized countries have COPD defined by spirometry.
(An objective measurement of lung function.)
In 1990, COPD was the twelfth most common cause of combined mortality
and disability but is expected to become the fifth cause by the year
2020. After diagnosis the 10-year survival rate is approximately 50%
with more than one-third of patients dying due to respiratory
insufficiency."
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Emphysema
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/9885.html
What Is It?
Emphysema is a progressive respiratory disease in which millions of
the lungs' tiny air sacs (alveoli) stretch out of shape or rupture. As
these thin, fragile air sacs become damaged or destroyed, the lungs
lose their natural elasticity and are unable to empty easily. As the
condition progresses, the lungs also lose their ability to absorb
oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Breathing becomes more physically
difficult, and a person feels easily short of breath, like he or she
is not getting enough air.
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common forms of
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and they often occur
together. A person with chronic bronchitis (an inflammation and
swelling of the bronchial walls) typically has a daily cough with
phlegm that lasts for months at a time over several years. Both
emphysema and chronic bronchitis are caused by damage to the lungs and
bronchial tubes, and this damage is usually permanent. When the damage
is caused by smoking, symptoms may improve after a smoker quits.
Smoking is responsible for up to 90 percent of cases of emphysema.
Exposure to secondhand smoke and airborne toxins also can contribute
to emphysema, although these factors are much less important than
smoking. Smokers exposed to high levels of air pollution, including
sulfur dioxide and particulates, appear to be at higher risk of
developing COPD.
About 1 percent of people in the United States develop emphysema from
an inherited disease known as alpha 1-antitryspin deficiency. In this
genetic condition, very low levels of a protein called alpha
1-antitryspin (AAT) are produced. This protein protects the lungs from
damage by enzymes. When levels of AAT are low, the lungs are prone to
being damaged by these enzymes. In its most severe form, emphysema can
develop in people in their 30s or 40s. Because smoking interferes with
the function of AAT, people with AAT deficiency who smoke develop more
severe emphysema at an earlier age than those who don't smoke. Most
people with AAT deficiency are Caucasians of northern European
descent.
About 2 million Americans have emphysema, and another 12 million have
COPD. COPD is the most common cause of death from respiratory disease
in the United States. Most people with emphysema are cigarette-smoking
men older than age 40, who live in areas where pollution is a constant
problem. However, because of the dramatic increase in smoking among
women over the past few decades, the rate of emphysema in women
continues to climb.
Symptoms
During the early stages of emphysema, most people will experience few
symptoms. The disease usually progresses slowly, and 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 20 years.
However, over time, almost all people with emphysema will develop
shortness of breath. At first, this may be noticed only with strenuous
activities, such as climbing several flights of stairs or playing
sports. As time goes on, the shortness of breath may occur with daily
activities, such as housework or walking short distances. Eventually,
shortness of breath may occur for much of the day, even while the
person is at rest or while sleeping. At its worst, emphysema can cause
"air hunger," the constant feeling of being unable to catch one's
breath.
These respiratory symptoms are the same regardless of the cause of the
emphysema. However, two people with the same degree of lung damage may
experience different symptoms. One person with mild emphysema may feel
very short of breath, while another person with more advanced stages
of the disease may be hardly bothered by symptoms. These differences
might result from other medical conditions and how well a person is
able to treat and condition their lungs.
Other symptoms caused by emphysema include:
Wheezing, coughing or bringing up phlegm (if chronic bronchitis also is present)
Tightness feeling in the chest
Barrel-like distended chest
Constant fatigue
Difficulty sleeping
Morning headaches
Weight loss
Swelling of the ankles
Lethargy or difficulty concentrating
[edit]
Expected Duration
"Regardless of the cause, lung damage in emphysema is irreversible.
Untreated, damage and symptoms of emphysema will progressively worsen.
Treated, emphysema symptoms can improve."
[edit]
Treatment
"No treatment can reverse or stop emphysema, but steps can be taken to
relieve symptoms, treat complications and minimize disability. Topping
the list of treatment advice from a doctor is to quit smoking, the
single most important factor for maintaining healthy lungs. Stopping
smoking is most effective at the early stages of emphysema, but it
also can slow the loss of lung function in later stages of the
disease."
[edit]
Your mom's doctor may have prescribed a number of different
medications that are intended to relieve the symptoms of emphysema,
and helped her breathing:
* Bronchodilators - Including albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin and other
brand names), salmeterol (Serevent) or ipratropium (Atrovent). These
medications are taken via hand-held inhalers or machine-drive
nebulizers, which create a fine mist that can be inhaled. Theophylline
(sold under several brand names) is a pill form of a bronchodilator.
Because it can interact with medications and cause side effects, it is
used less often than the inhaler medications. Bronchodilators help to
open the bronchial tubes in your lungs and reduce shortness of breath,
wheezing and cough.
* Corticosteroids - These medications help to reduce inflammation in
the lungs. During an acute flare-up of symptoms, they often are given
in pill form or by injection. Inhaled corticosteroids or pills may be
given continually to help control the inflammation of chronic
bronchitis.
* Antibiotics - These typically are used for acute flare-ups of
emphysema triggered by respiratory infections.
* Oxygen therapy has been proven to increase life expectancy in people
with emphysema who have below-normal blood-oxygen levels. Oxygen
usually is administered through a plastic tube (nasal cannula) worn
under the nostrils. The oxygen either is stored in metal cylinders, or
is purified from air by an electrical machine (an oxygen
concentrator). A number of lightweight, portable devices are now
available that allow those who need oxygen to leave their house for
hours at a time. Some people with emphysema need oxygen only at night.
Since supplying oxygen at home is very expensive, most medical
insurance companies have strict requirements to qualify for home
oxygen.
* Pulmonary rehabilitation - A form of physical therapy that teaches
patients with emphysema to conserve energy, improve stamina and reduce
breathlessness.
Lung-volume reduction surgery.
Prognosis
"There is no cure for emphysema, but this chronic condition can be
treated and controlled. People with mild emphysema who quit smoking
have a normal life expectancy. Those who follow treatment instructions
and adopt good health habits can enjoy a fairly normal lifestyle for a
long time. Even people whose emphysema is severe have a good chance of
surviving for five years or more.
In those people with emphysema who continue to smoke, research
indicates that smoking dramatically increases the severity of the
illness and may reduce their life span by 10 years or more."
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keyword search:
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controlling emphysema
In addition, I had personal experience because I lived with a person
who had severe pulmonary disease (COPD) and knew about treatments
available.
Best regards,
tlspiegel |
,
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