National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Emphysema is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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National Institutes of Health
Emphysema
Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involving damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. As a result, your body does not get the oxygen it needs. Emphysema makes it hard to catch your breath. You may also have a chronic cough and have trouble breathing during exercise.
The most common cause is cigarette smoking. If you smoke, quitting can help prevent you from getting the disease. If you already have emphysema, not smoking might keep it from getting worse. Treatment is based on whether your symptoms are mild, moderate or severe. Treatments include inhalers, oxygen, medications and sometimes surgery to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
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Start Here
- Emphysema(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
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Learn More
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Multimedia & Cool Tools
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For group Basics
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For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
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The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
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Reference Shelf
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For You
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For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
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Overviews
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Spirometry(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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What Are Lung Function Tests?(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
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Treatment
- COPD Medications(National Jewish Health)
- Lung Transplant(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Surgery(American Lung Association)
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Nutrition
- Emphysema and Nutrition(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School)
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Rehabilitation/Recovery
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MedlinePlus: Pulmonary Rehabilitation(National Library of Medicine)
- Also available in Spanish
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MedlinePlus: Pulmonary Rehabilitation
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Disease Management
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MedlinePlus: Oxygen Therapy(National Library of Medicine)
- Also available in Spanish
- Staying Healthy(American Association for Respiratory Care)
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MedlinePlus: Oxygen Therapy
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Specific Conditions
- Alpha1-Antitrypsin Deficiency: Inherited Emphysema(National Jewish Health)
- Emphysema and Alpha-1(American Association for Respiratory Care)
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Related Issues
- Emphysema: Does Cold Weather Make It Worse?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Frequently Asked Questions about COPD, Emphysema, and Bronchitis(InteliHealth, Harvard Medical School)
- Hyperinflated Lungs: What Does It Mean?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Anatomy/Physiology
- Anatomy and Function of the Normal Lung(American Thoracic Society)
- How Lungs Work(American Lung Association)
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How the Lungs Work(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Emphysema(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Emphysema
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Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
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Research
- How Has Basic Science Research Improved Treatment For Lung Diseases?(American Thoracic Society) - PDF
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Organizations
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Statistics
- FastStats: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)(National Center for Health Statistics)
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Patient Handouts
- Chest x-ray
- Also available in Spanish
- How to breathe when you are short of breath
- Also available in Spanish
- Lung diffusion testing
- Also available in Spanish
- Lung surgery
- Also available in Spanish
- Lung surgery - discharge
- Also available in Spanish
- Pulmonary function tests
- Also available in Spanish
- Thoracic CT
- Also available in Spanish
- Traveling with breathing problems
- Also available in Spanish
- Using oxygen at home
- Also available in Spanish
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
