Treatments for Emphysema
Treatments for Emphysema:
There is no cure for emphysema, and the permanent damage done to the airways in the lungs is not reversible. With regular medical care and consistent patient compliance with treatments and lifestyle changes, the symptoms of emphysema can be minimized and progression of the disease can be slowed. The treatment goal for people living with emphysema is to control symptoms to a degree that allows them to feel better and live as normally and actively as possible for as long as possible and to sleep comfortably.
It is also vital to prevent common diseases that can seriously complicate emphysema and become life threatening. These include influenza and pneumonia, which may be prevented with vaccines and treated with antibiotics, as appropriate to your case. In conjunction with your professional health care provider, you will develop an individualized treatment plan that best fits your type and severity of emphysema and your life style. The most effect treatment plans include a multifaceted approach. This includes preventive care, which is vital in minimizing the symptoms and exacerbations (episodes of worsening) of emphysema.
The key treatment and prevention for emphysema is to quit smoking. Your health care provider can make suggestions and referrals to smoking cessation techniques and programs. It is also important to asses and eliminate or minimize exposure to potential lung irritants that can also result in the development of emphysema. These include air pollution, chemical fumes, dust. Following manufacturer's directions for the safe use of chemicals, including wearing appropriate masks, is vital.
Emphysema is also treated with medications. After a complete evaluation, your health care provider will decide what medication or combination of medications will work best for you. Prescribed medications may include short-acting or long-acting bronchodilators that are breathed into the lungs directly taken using a device called an inhaler. Bronchodilators help to relax the lower airways in the lungs and open them up to let in more oxygen. Corticosteroids are another class of medications that can be inhaled. They work by reducing airway inflammation.
Another type of medication is an Alpha 1-Proteinase Inhibitor (A1PI). This medication is only used for people with a rare hereditary form of emphysema, called alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency-related emphysema. It is not recommended for treating emphysema due to smoking or other lung irritants.
Moderate to severe emphysema, which results in low levels of oxygen in your blood, may also be treated with oxygen therapy, in which extra oxygen (supplemental oxygen) is given for you to breathe through small nasal prongs or a mask. Supplemental oxygen can help relieve the shortness of breath and ensure that the vital organs, such as the heart and the brain, get enough oxygen. Concentrations of oxygen and the types of devices used vary depending on the severity of your condition. Your individual condition will also dictate if you will need oxygen at all times or only during certain activities. For example, some people with emphysema find they only need supplemental oxygen when there is a high ozone alert (a lot of pollution in the air/poor air quality). Other people may need supplemental oxygen when they travel to the mountains, because areas in high altitudes have less oxygen in the air. Other people with emphysema may need supplemental oxygen when being physically active or to help them sleep better.
Pulmonary rehabilitation is another form of treatment. It can involve a medically supervised exercise program, disease management training, and nutritional and psychological counseling to help improve overall health and quality of life. In some severe cases, surgery may be considered. Surgical procedures include lung transplant and lung volume reduction surgery. Volume reduction surgery involves removing the most seriously diseased areas of the lung, which helps the remaining lung and breathing muscles to work better.
Treatments for Emphysema
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources
for Emphysema
includes the following list.
Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Emphysema: Is the Diagnosis Correct?
The first step in getting correct treatment is
to get a correct diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis list for Emphysema may include:
Hidden causes of Emphysema may be incorrectly diagnosed:
Emphysema: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers
Products, offers and promotion categories available for Emphysema:
Curable Types of Emphysema
Possibly curable types of Emphysema may include:
- Smoking induced Emphysema
- Occupational exposure induced Emphysema
- Air pollution induced Emphysema
- more curable types...»
Emphysema: Research Doctors & Specialists
Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.
Drugs and Medications used to treat Emphysema:
Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Emphysema include:
- Formoterol
- Foradil Aerolizer
- Ipratropium
- Atrovent
- Alti-Atrovent
- Apo-Atrovent
- Atrovent Nasal Spray
- Combivent
- Dom-Ipratropium
- Ipratropium Novaplus
- PMS-Ipratropium
- Metaproterenol
- Alti-Orciprenaline
- Alupent
- Arm-a-Med
- Dey-Dose
- Dey-Lute
- Metaprel
- Metaprel Nasal Inhaler
- Prometa
- Theophylline
- Accurbron
- Acet-Am
- A.E.A
- Aerolate
- Aminodrox-Forte
- Apo-Oxtriphylline
- Aquaphyllim
- Asbron
- Asmalix
- Azpan
- Brocomar
- Bronchial Gelatin Capsule
- Bronkaid Tablets
- Bronkodyl
- Bronkolixir
- Bronkotabs
- Constant-T
- Duraphyl
- Elixicon
- Elixomin
- Elixophyllin
- For-Az-Ma
- Isuprel Compound
- Labid
- Lanophyllin
- Lixolin
- Lodrane
- Lodrane CR
- Marax
- Marax DF
- Mudrane GG Elixir
- Phedral
- Phyllocontin
- Physpan
- PMS Theophylline
- Primatene
- Pulmophylline
- Quadrinal
- Quibron
- Quibron Plus
- Quibron-T Dividose
- Quiobron-300
- Quibron-T/SR
- Respbid
- Slo-Bid
- Slo-Bid Gyrocaps
- Slo-Phyllin
- Slo-Phyllin GG
- Slo-Phyllin Gyrocaps
- Somophyllin
- Somophyllin-12
- Sustaire
- Tedral
- Tedral SA
- T.E.H
- T.E.P
- Thalfed
- Theobid Duracaps
- Theo-Bronc
- Theochron
- Theoclear
- Theoclear L.A
- Theocord
- Theo-Dur
- Theo-Dur Sprinkle
- Theolair
- Theolair-SR
- Theolate
- Theolixir
- Theomar
- Theomax DF
- Theon
- Theophyl-SR
- Theospan-SR
- Theo-SR
- Theo-Time
- Theo-24
- Theovent
- Theox
- Theozine
- Therex
- Uni-Dur
- Uniphyl
- Vitaphen
- Fenoterol
- Berotec
- Partusisten
Latest treatments for Emphysema:
The following are some of the latest treatments for Emphysema:
Hospital statistics for Emphysema:
These medical statistics relate to hospitals, hospitalization and Emphysema:
- 1.8% (229,725) of hospital episodes were for chronic lower respiratory diseases in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 72% of hospital consultations for chronic lower respiratory diseases required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 49% of hospital episodes for chronic lower respiratory diseases were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 51% of hospital episodes for chronic lower respiratory diseases were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- 92% of hospital admissions for chronic lower respiratory diseases required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
- more hospital information...»
Hospitals & Medical Clinics: Emphysema
Research quality ratings and patient incidents/safety measures
for hospitals and medical facilities in specialties related to Emphysema:
Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »
Choosing the Best Treatment Hospital:
More general information, not necessarily in relation to Emphysema,
on hospital and medical facility performance and surgical care quality:
Medical news summaries about treatments for Emphysema:
The following medical news items
are relevant to treatment of Emphysema:
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Book Excerpts: Treatment of Emphysema
Treatments of Emphysema: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about the treatments of Emphysema.
Crepitation, subcutaneous [Subcutaneous crepitus, subcutaneous emphysema]:
Patient counseling
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Warn patients with asthma or chronic bronchitis to be alert for subcutaneous crepitation, which can signal pneumothorax, a dangerous complication.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Crepitation, subcutaneous [Subcutaneous crepitus, subcutaneous emphysema]:
Nursing considerations
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
▪ Monitor the patient's vital signs frequently, especially respirations.
▪ Because excessive edema from subcutaneous crepitation in the neck and upper chest can cause airway obstruction, be alert for signs of respiratory distress such as dyspnea.
Patient teaching
▪ Tell the patient that the affected tissues will eventually absorb the air or gas bubbles and the subcutaneous crepitation will decrease.
▪ Warn the patient with asthma or chronic bronchitis to be alert for subcutaneous crepitation, which can signal pneumothorax, a dangerous complication.
▪ Reassure the patient frequently to reduce anxiety.
▪ Explain the diagnosis and treatment plan.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007
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