LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Emphysema: Air
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Emphysema is a chronic disease that interferes with normal breathing. It occurs when the delicate air sac walls (which are highly elastic) become inflamed, causing them to lose their natural elasticity. They overexpand and lose the ability to fill up and contract properly. As air gets trapped in these tiny sacs, some rupture to form one large air space instead of many small ones. The trapped air cannot be fully released when a patient exhales, and breathing then becomes more and more labored.
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Emphysema is a type of lung disease classified as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is an irreversible, progressive condition characterized by inflammation and reduced airflow in the lungs. Emphysema often occurs in combination with chronic bronchitis. The most common cause is cigarette smoking.
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Emphysema cannot be cured. The goal of treatment is to slow the progression of the disease, relieve symptoms, and help prevent complications. It is most important to remove the irritation that is causing the damage. That means the patient must stop smoking. Commonly used medications include bronchodilators, which relax the bronchial muscles so the airways are widened and it's easier to breathe. This drug is available in inhaled, injected, and oral forms.
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Emphysema ... may accompany diseases such as asthma and tuberculosis that can obstruct the airways in the lungs. A less serious form of emphysema sometimes develops in elderly people whose lungs have lost elasticity only as a part of the aging process. Another usually mild form, called compensatory emphysema, results when a lung overexpands to occupy the space of another lung that has collapsed or has been removed surgically.
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Emphysema can be aggravated by air pollution or exposure to certain chemicals. The first action you can take to avoid emphysema is to make sure you do not inhale smoke, especially cigarette smoke. Avoid workplace exposure to chemicals that have irritating vapors or dusts.
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Emphysema is characterized by loss of the normal elasticity of the lung that helps to hold airways open. With progressive inelasticity of the lungs, the small airways collapse on expiration, making it impossible to fully exhale air.
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