EMPHYSEMA

Whats is Emphysema? Emphysema is a chronic (long-term) lung disease that can get worse over time. It's usually caused by smoking. Having emphysema means some of the air sacs (Alveolus) in your lungs are damaged, making it hard to breathe.

What causes emphysema?

Emphysema can be caused by one or a combination of these things:

Cigarette smoking: Most cases of emphsyema are caused by cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoke reaches deep into the lungs and causes permanent damage. If you have emphysema from cigarettes, the best way to stop your lung damage is to quit smoking as soon as possible. It's never too late to quit smoking.

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency: Some people have emphsyema because of a rare genetic disorder called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency. People with Alpha-1 are missing an enzyme that protects their lungs. Some people with Alpha-1 deficiency get emphysema without ever having smoked. Other people get emphsyema from the combination of smoking and having Alpha-1 deficiency.

Air pollution: There is some evidence that air pollution can contribute to people getting emphysema, especially if the person also smokes. Signs and symptoms of emphysema Shortness of breath- feeling like you can't get your breath out A barrel-shaped chest Wheezing Feeling tired (fatigue) Losing weight without trying People might think that feeling short of breath is a normal sign of aging- but it's not. If you have these signs and symptoms, see your doctor. Ask for spirometry, a simple test that measures how much air you move out of your lungs.

Signs and symptoms of emphysema
- Shortness of breath- feeling like you can't get your breath out
- A barrel-shaped chest
- Wheezing
- Feeling tired (fatigue)
- Losing weight without trying

Treatment for emphysema
There is no cure for emphysema, but it is possible to slow down the disease and make it easier to live with the symptoms. The number one treatment for emphysema is to quit smoking and stay away from smoky places. By quitting smoking, you can slow down emphysema. There are other treatments for emphysema, including medications, supplemental oxygen, and ensuring you upper body is in an raised position when laying down therefore eleviating stress and tension on the lungs.

Client reported benefits for emphysema include:

• Positional control assists breathing and alleviates the build-up of phlegm as in Cystic Fibrosis (not by using massage therapy)..

To read more about our therapy click here or to learn more about the general benefits of massage therapy click here

To see if you can receive similar or possibly even better results why not take us up on our offer of a free in-home demonstration.

Remember you have nothing to lose but your pain and just like many of our current clients in the years to come you could be reporting back to us your improved quality of life.