Whorwell 1
JoEllen Whorwell
ME 1352: Anatomy and Physiology II
Maggie Lilly, RMA
October 24, 2011
Emphysema and COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a condition when the cells lining the lungs swell to a point at which they restrict air flow. COPD has doubled over the past two decades, and is the nation’s fourth cause of death in the United States. Because of the blocked air passages, it causes a strain to the heart. COPD increases the blood pressure in the lungs called pulmonary hypertension, and can make the heart enlarge. Emphysema is a lung disease that is classified as COPD. Emphysema causes irreversible lung tissue damage. Emphysema involves permanent damage to the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs that are destroyed and lose the ability to stretch. This leads to insufficient exchange of gases. Carbon dioxide stays in the lungs and has less room for oxygen. As a result, the body does not get the oxygen that is needed, and this causes difficulty in breathing. COPD and emphysema are preventable. In North American tobacco use is the primary cause of COPD, but air pollution, asthma, and respiratory infections also play a role (Thibodeau and Patton pg. 477). However, emphysema does have an inherited disorder called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. This is a substance that is made in the liver and is released in the bloodstream. It helps protect the lungs against damage from other chemicals in the blood. Having alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency means that the patient does not enough, and the lungs can become easily damaged. COPD and emphysema are not contagious, but are a factor in a decreased quality of life. There are several symptoms that the patient can experience with COPD and emphysema. The most common symptom is shortness of breath. At first this occurs with mild exercise or normal activities. After a while, the patient will experience