If you’ve ever wondered what emphysema is, or you’ve recently been diagnosed and would like to know more about the condition, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we explore what causes emphysema, the symptoms, and what types of treatments, aids and support are available. First of all, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone and there are many sources of support available to you and your family.

Any medical information provided here is for informational purposes and does not replace medical advice from a medical professional. If you’re concerned that you may have any of the emphysema symptoms discussed below, please see your GP.

What is emphysema?

Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that’s mainly caused by smoking or being around tobacco smoke. It’s a disease of the lungs that gets gradually worse over time and causes irreversible damage to a person’s lungs, inevitably affecting their ability to breathe.

Over one million people in the UK have some form of COPD and many of these people specifically have emphysema. Emphysema usually affects people aged 50 and over. Still, some younger people do develop the condition, although it may be very mild at the beginning with symptoms of emphysema that may be hardly noticeable or attributed to something else.

What causes emphysema?

Emphysema causes breathing problems due to damage to the lungs. Within the lungs, tiny air sacs called alveoli exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide which is breathed out as a waste gas. In emphysema, the alveoli become so damaged that they burst. As the number of functioning alveoli is reduced, the lungs become less able to breathe out carbon dioxide and have less room for fresh oxygen, which results in shortness of breath.

Smoking is the most common cause of emphysema. Smoking means a person inhales poisons, chemicals and toxins that damage the lungs as well as putting the person at risk of other serious health problems, such as stroke and heart disease. Stopping smoking can help reduce the risk of developing emphysema and other lung conditions, and it can help halt further lung damage for people diagnosed with emphysema.

Not everybody who has emphysema will be or will have been a smoker. Exposure to second-hand smoke is also a huge cause. Exposure to pollutants, chemicals and other irritants can also cause emphysema to develop.

What are symptoms of emphysema?

Whilst many emphysema symptoms are common amongst people with the condition, each person will experience the disease differently and at different levels.

Sometimes, symptoms of emphysema are present for many years before a person seeks medical advice. The condition often starts off with mild symptoms that can go unnoticed.

If you think you have any of the symptoms listed here or are concerned about your breathing, see your GP. These are often symptoms of other healthcare conditions but it’s advisable to have these checked as soon as they appear.

Common symptoms of emphysema include:

• Feeling out of breath
• Ongoing chesty cough
• Phlegm
• Regular chest infections
• Wheezing when breathing or exercising

If the condition progresses, emphysema symptoms may include:

• Fatigue due to taking in less oxygen
• Poor appetite
• Weight loss
• Sleep problems
• Oedema (collection of fluid in tissues in the body which become swollen)

Diagnosis of emphysema

There are lots of reasons that people feel breathless, and if you are having breathlessness symptoms, there may be other reasons such as anxiety, stress, asthma, reaction to medication, and allergies. However, we recommend you speak to your GP. They will listen to your breathing, ask if you are, or have ever been, a smoker, organise a blood test and possibly even send you for an X-ray on your chest.

The British Lung Foundation provides a guide for getting the best from your doctor which may be helpful to you.

Treatments for emphysema

Emphysema is not curable, but there are treatment options available to some people, that are designed to help lessen the impact of symptoms on everyday life. There are medications available to help control symptoms, devices required in later stages of emphysema to deliver oxygen to the lungs and some surgical options that are available to a limited number of people.

If you’re given an emphysema diagnosis, your medical specialists will provide a treatment plan for you which may change over time as your condition progresses. You’re also likely to be advised on important lifestyle changes you should make in order to slow down the progression of your disease.

There are lots of medications available to help open your airways, reduce inflammation in the lungs and mucus production, and increase the amount of oxygen you intake. Some people are prescribed steroids or beta-2 agonists which are self-administered by an inhaler.

People with severe cases of emphysema may require the use of a nebuliser, which is a device that delivers medication through a mask or mouthpiece. Some people will require oxygen therapy which involves breathing oxygen from an oxygen tank for several hours or most of the day. For individuals with advanced emphysema, they have the option of surgery, including a lung transplant.

Living with emphysema

After a diagnosis of emphysema, you’re likely to feel a lot of emotions, including shock, worry, fear, and anxiety. These are all completely normal, and it can take some time to come to terms with your condition. It’s possible that you’ll need to make some changes to your life, which could include stopping smoking or starting an exercise regime.

Each person experiences emphysema differently, so there is no definitive way to say how it can affect a person. The condition progresses differently for everybody, but you’re still able to achieve a good quality of life. After diagnosis, many people still work, travel and socialise. Depending on how severe the condition is, some aspects of daily life can be challenging due to breathing difficulties and fatigue. Here is how emphysema can impact daily life:

• Getting around - Mobility can be an issue for people with severe emphysema, requiring the help of mobility aids.
• Sleeping - Feeling out of breath can be discomforting and stressful, with some individuals finding breathing more difficult at night, resulting in poor-quality sleep.
• Daily errands - Fatigue and breathlessness can mean that doing housework becomes extremely difficult. There are many daily living aids at Complete Care Shop that can help you.
• Holidays - There are lots of things to consider before you go on holiday, like medication, travel insurance, and mobility.
• Mental health - A chronic health condition can be difficult to live with. It can lead to some people having a low mood, anxiety, anger, stress or depression as a result.

Products that provide support for emphysema

At Complete Care Shop, we supply a wide range of living aids that can greatly help your daily life when living with emphysema. 

Because emphysema causes breathlessness, you could consider a rollator to assist you when walking, either in the house or out and about. Other mobility aids include attendant propelled wheelchairs that allow you to get out of the house without exerting yourself. If you need a wheelchair, having a ramp at home to provide access is essential.

When moving around at home, bathroom or bedroom safety rails can be extremely helpful for keeping up upright and stable on your feet when fatigue and breathlessness kick in. Rise and recliner chairs are also helpful for providing assistance with sitting down or getting up from a seated position.

In terms of using the bathroom, with fatigue and breathlessness playing a part, it can be a challenge to get to the toilet in time. For this reason, a commode can be very helpful.

Diet and exercise with emphysema

Having a healthy weight and eating good food is important for people with emphysema. It helps ensure the lungs and heart are not put under additional stress and helps the body function to the best of its ability. At present, there is no definitive diet to follow after an emphysema diagnosis. It’s recommended that you follow a healthy, balanced one, including drinking lots of fluid – especially water – which can help to reduce excess mucus and flush toxins through the body.

Emphysema can often cause a loss of appetite or with breathlessness making eating and drinking difficult. If this is the case for you, read the British Lung Foundation’s advice on eating well with a lung condition.

In terms of exercise, you’ll likely be advised to get regular, aerobic exercise that gets your heart beating faster. You may be advised to go on a pulmonary rehabilitation course which is designed to help people with lung conditions learn about exercise and start an exercise regime. If you’d like some more detailed information on exercise that can help your emphysema, speak to your GP. There is a possibility that they can refer you to a physiotherapist who would be able to help you find suitable exercises.

Employment with emphysema

Depending on the severity of their symptoms, people with emphysema can still work. Some people may need to change jobs or reduce their hours, but everyone is different. If you decide to continue to work, you should tell your employer about your condition. However, if you decide you’re unable to work, you may wish to explore financial support you can apply for. My Lungs, My Life website provides lots of information about emphysema and work.

Support for emphysema

Hopefully, this guide about emphysema has helped provide you with the information you need, whether you’ve been experiencing symptoms or a family member has been diagnosed. It’s important to remember that lung conditions are common in the UK, so you’re not alone.

While your experience of emphysema will be different to others, there are people in a similar situation to you, and emphysema support services available that may help you.

Below are a number of communities and support services you could use for more information and help:

• British Lung Foundation and Forum
• My Lungs, My Life
• NHS Choices