Respiratory Diseases at a Closer Glance
Emphysema, like any other disease, affects millions of people all around the world. Researchers each year conduct more studies to better understand these diseases and how treat them. Researchers look at what populations are most vulnerable, if the environment plays a role, and how the community either promotes prevention or worsens conditions. First, it is important to understand what this disease is, the etiology, transmission, how outside factors affect it, and ultimately, why men are more vulnerable than women.
Emphysema, which is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), affects the respiratory system. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the two diseases that fall under COPD (Demirjian, 2012, para. 1). The most common known cause of emphysema is from cigarette smoking due to the pollutants in tobacco. Studies show that while cigarette smoking is the major cause, other possible causes are air pollutants, chemical irritant exposure, chronic bronchitis, and genetics (Zelman, 2010, p.197). The pollutants in tobacco release chemicals from within the lungs that cause damage to the alveoli. As time passes, this continues to do more damage to the alveoli. The chemicals that cause the alveolar walls to break down also cause the lungs to lose elasticity which prevents them from inflating and deflating correctly. Since the lungs are not able to deflate as normal, they fill over time with carbon dioxide air (Zelman, 2010, p. 197). This affects the lungs ability to provide sufficient amounts of oxygenated blood to be pumped back into the body (Health Sciences, 2005, para. 1, 2). Genetics are also a cause because nonsmokers have been diagnosed with emphysema. People who are born with a genetic deficiency of the alpha-1 antitrypsin gene are more susceptible of being diagnosed with lung diseases including emphysema. This deficiency is common world-wide but affects those with European ancestry more so than other ethnicities (Genetics Home Reference, 2013). The probability of someone being diagnosed to emphysema due to genetics is extremely rare.
Emphysema currently affects males more so than women and over the age of 65. Research compiled from three different studies and reported by Medical News Today (MNT) in 2012 stated that woman between the ages of twenty and thirty were more successful than men in quitting smoking. According to these statistics, men continue to smoke throughout their life and increase their chances of being diagnosed with COPD. COPD Genetic Epidemiology (N.D) conducted a study that compared how emphysema targets gender and race. It was gathered that nine percent of men have COPD world-wide while only five percent of women have been diagnosed. Despite that fewer women have COPD more women than men are treated for unknown reasons. One possible reason that COPD is more prevalent in men could be because air pollutants and chemical irritants are another cause besides smoking. Men who work in the mines are exposed to both of these on a daily basis.
Due to the fact that smoking is the leading cause of emphysema claiming responsibility for eighty five to ninety percent of cases, the main focus will be on smoking (Oral Cancer Foundation, 2010). Educational background is the leading demographic factor when studying why someone chooses to pick up the habit of smoking. In turn, the number of years spent in education affects someone’s socioeconomic status. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation (2010), thirty percent of smokers live below the poverty line while twenty four percent live above. One reason for this may be because of stress. When someone struggles with financial hardship, they are often stressed with the challenges of meeting financial responsibilities. This stress is sometimes handled with smoking, which is said to calm nerves. This is perhaps one reason why lower income people smoke more often than middle or upper class people.
Emphysema is not transmitted from person to person and is not curable. There is a variety of options of treatment available that will make the disease easier to live with and hopefully slow down the progression of the disease. Doctors can prescribe medications such as Advair which is a bronchodilator mixed with a corticosteroid. In addition to inhalers, doctors also prescribe medications aimed to reduce mucous and fight off infections. Lastly, doctors can suggest oxygen treatment if the disease condition is severe. Extreme cases of emphysema make breathing very difficult because of the enlarged air sacs, therefore oxygen treatment often becomes inevitable and a way of life for many people (Faris, 2012, p. 3, 5, 6). Alternative treatments aim to improve a quality of life by a change of lifestyle and physical therapy to teach the patient how to use other muscles for respiration (Zelman, 2010, p. 198). Doctors encourage the cessation of smoking in addition to consistent exercise and healthy eating as an alternative method of treatment. Physically therapy aims to strengthen other muscle groups for use of respiration according to Zelman (2010, p. 198) through cardio exercises.
Amongst other factors to take into consideration, social influence also has an impact in how people conduct their lives. Women are less likely to develop the habit of smoking which then, greatly decreases the chances of being diagnosed with emphysema. One is that it is often portrayed as a masculine habit. Most advertising in magazines and on TV target men specifically by displaying a rugged man looking masculine or of a seductive woman to get the man’s attention. According to an article written for Men’s Health magazine, Michael Givel, a professor at the University of Oklahoma, who has done extensive research on tobacco marketing, explains that "cigarette ads pitched to young men hammer themes about leaving the adolescent lifestyle behind and moving into independent adult thinking. They depict males who smoke as cool, independent, strong, and very sexually attractive to females of that same age group" as a reason for why men are more prevalent to smoke. Recently, advertising has begun to target women however; the amount of media produced is still scarce. In society, like many other things, it is more acceptable for men to smoke then it is for women. Women are judged more harshly in regards to what is considered attractive or not, and for women to smoke, it is perceived to be unattractive.
Like any other disease, the best way to help prevent diagnosis is to promote preventative medicine by educating the public about living a healthy lifestyle. Health organizations such as the American Cancer Society encourage people to continue being smoke free by quitting or never starting because of the negative effects it will have on the human body. The American Association for Respiratory Care founded a campaign called Breathe Better Network in 2007. The campaign seeks to improve the lives of those who have been diagnosed with COPD by promoting the most up to date information and suggestions on how to improve the quality of life.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, more simply known as COPD, is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Doctors and researchers strive to better understand this disease just like all other diseases so that those who have been diagnosed can live more comfortable lives and hopefully prevent future cases all together. This effort is made by understanding the disease, understanding what factors influence (environmental, social, promotion), and learning new ways to fight it. According to the American Lung Association (2013), millions of Americans are living with emphysema every day of their lives, and hundreds of thousands are dying each year (Mortality). It is imperative that all efforts are continuously exhausted in order to save many from what should be a preventable disease. References
Health Central. (2005, October31). Emphysema. Retrieved from http://www.healthcentral.com/ency/408/000136.html?ic=506048
Zelman, M., Tompary, E., Raymond, J., Holdaway, P., & Mulvihill, M. (2010). Human Diseases: A Systematic Approach (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Demirjian, B. G. (2012). Emphysema. Retrieved from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/298283-overview
Genetics Home Reference. (2013). Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Retrieved from http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/alpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency
Thorton, J. (2008, May). Why Are Men Still Smoking?. Men's Health, (2008), Retrieved from http://www.menshealth.com/health/big-tobacco-and-cigarette-smoking-addiction
The Oral Cancer Foundation. (2010). Demographics of Tobacco Use. Retrieved from http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/tobacco/demographics_tobacco.htm
Faris, S. (2012). Understanding Emphysema Treatments. The Oral Cancer Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.healthline.com/health/copd/emphysema-treatment-options
Shepherd, R. (2012). Quitting Smoking: Men V.S. Women. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/246010.php
Genetics and racial, ethnic, and gender characteristics of COPD. (N.D.). Retrieved from http://www.copdgene.org/genetics
American Lung Association. (2013). Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Fact Sheet. Retrieved from http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/copd/resources/facts-figures/COPD-Fact-Sheet.html
