Definition
Pulmonary emphysema is the over-inflation of the alveoli. Lung emphysema often occurs as a result of long-term, chronic lung diseases. The fine pulmonary alveoli, the so-called “alveoli”, are separated from each other by thin walls.
The walls between the alveoli are also involved in squeezing air out of the lungs during exhalation. As a result of long-term changes as a consequence of lung diseases, the alveolar walls perish and the air cannot be exhaled. The lung over-inflates and forms emphysema bubbles. The air that thus remains in the lungs is called “trapped air”.
Causes
The exact biochemical evolution of the alveolar walls is not fully known. A number of enzymes are partly responsible for this process, which rebuild the sensitive lung tissue. By far the most common cause is long-term smoking.
The inhaled pollutants activate the harmful enzymes that can lead to the breakdown of the lung tissue. In addition, emphysema leads to a narrowing of the airways, especially the so-called “bronchioles”. This also contributes to the fact that the air cannot be breathed out sufficiently.
The lung tissue can be damaged by the inhalation of any pollutants. People who are professionally exposed to toxic gases and pollutants have a similarly high risk of developing emphysema as a heavy smoker. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a typical secondary disease of smoking.
In the long term, it leads to emphysema, which is often restricted to the upper sections of the lungs. It is not always possible to prevent emphysema through a healthy lifestyle. Hereditary forms can also occur.
Those affected produce too little of a protein that is supposed to protect the lung tissue from remodelling. In these cases, the disease increasingly affects the lower sections of the lung. Rarer forms of emphysema occur as a natural consequence of the aging process. They cannot be traced back to a specific cause and in most cases do not require treatment.
