When you breathe in, the alveoli expand and stretch, taking in oxygen and transporting it to the blood in the small capillary vessels within their thin walls. At the same time, carbon dioxide waste moves into the air sacs from the capillaries. The process is called gas exchange. When you breathe out, the alveoli deflate, expelling the carbon dioxide out of the body through the airways. RELATED: 7 Ways to Ease Emphysema Symptoms Some people who have COPD, however, never smoked cigarettes. Other risk factors for emphysema include:
Exposure to air pollutionSecondhand smokeWorkplace chemicals, dust, and fumesA history of childhood respiratory infection
Bronchodilator medications These medicines relax the muscles around the airways and are given through handheld inhalants and sometimes through a machine called a nebulizer.Anti-inflammatory medication These medications reduce inflammation in the airways.Oxygen therapy This is prescribed for patients whose lungs are not getting enough oxygen to the blood (hypoxemia).Lung volume reduction surgery This involves removing a portion of diseased lung tissue, then joining together the remaining tissue. It can help relieve pressure on the breathing muscles and improve lung elasticity and gas exchange, but very few patients are candidates for this procedure.Pulmonary rehabilitation Pulmonary rehabilitation programs are personalized treatment programs that involve exercise, breathing, and nutrition tips individually tailored to your COPD. The goal of these programs is to help you stay active and carry out your everyday activities.
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Eat a healthy diet. Your body uses food to fuel all its activities, and that includes breathing. Talk to your doctor and a registered dietitian about diet changes that may help ease your emphysema symptoms and increase your energy.Maintain your ideal body weight. Being overweight will make breathing even more difficult. Being underweight, on the other hand, can leave you feeling weak and tired, and can also increase your risk of chest infections.Avoid lung irritants. Smoking isn’t the only thing that exacerbates emphysema. Avoid secondhand smoke, exhaust fumes, strong perfumes, cleaning products, paint and varnish, excessive dust, and other pollution.Stay active. Regular exercise can reduce shortness of breath by improving the body’s use of oxygen and strengthening your respiratory muscles. Talk to your doctor about the amount and type of exercise you should do.Get vaccinated. Stay up-to-date on vaccinations, including those for the flu, COVID-19, and pneumonia, to prevent chest infections, which can be dangerous — even life-threatening — for people with COPD.
Additional reporting by Julia Califano.
