Managing Emphysema: Effective Therapies for Improved Lung Health

What therapy is there, and what should the patient pay attention to?

The treatment aims to ensure that the disease does not progress and that the affected person can live with it; Changes that have already occurred cannot be undone. The most important measures are strictly non-smoking and avoiding environmental irritants and allergy-causing substances. In addition, respiratory exercises, inhalation and tapping massages, medication for inhalation or in tablet form (above all cortisone and agents for expanding the airways), and later long-term oxygen therapy (at least 16 hours daily) are used. In the final stage, you must switch to artificial respiration using a mask or tube.

Surgical intervention is rarely necessary.

In individual cases, surgical measures such as volume reduction or, in younger patients, a lung transplant are indicated but only have limited success. In principle, close cooperation with the treating doctor and checks by him are essential. Medication must be taken regularly and correctly, infections avoided (e.g. through vaccinations) and – if they do occur – treated quickly and consistently. Those affected should learn to recognize and (have) treated the worsening of their illness early on.

The vital body signals in lung diseases include coughing, sputum, shortness of breath, the need for medication and falling peak flow values ​​(exhaled values ​​that can be regularly determined by those affected). Patient training is always valuable – the general practitioner gives addresses. Since the changes in lung tissue that have already occurred are permanent, the prognosis is strongly influenced by how well the disease progression is delayed and complications avoided. In principle, life expectancy and quality are severely restricted.