Emphysema »
Introduction to emphysema
The lungs are a pair of organs in the chest that are primarily responsible
for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air we breathe and the
blood.
The lung is composed of clusters of small air sacs (alveoli) divided by thin,
elastic walls or membranes. Capillaries, the tiniest of blood vessels, run
within these walls between the alveoli and allow blood and air to come near each other. The distance between the air in the lungs and the blood in the
capillaries is very small, and allows molecules of oxygen and carbon dioxide to
transfer across the membranes.
Air reaches the alveoli via the bronchial tree. The trachea splits into the
right and left mainstem bronchi, which branch further into bronchioles and
finally ends in the alveolar air sacs.
When we breathe in, air enters the lung and the alveoli expand. Oxygen is
transferred onto hemoglobin molecules in the red blood cells to be trans...
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I am 56 now. I was diagnosed with COPD in March of 2007. I had been a heavy smoker, got a cold I couldn't get rid of, ended up in the hospital, on a ventilator. I should have known it was coming, but like most smokers, thought it would never happen to me. I don't smoke now and never will again, but, I still want to. My life has changed drastically. I had to stop working, sold my home (couldn't afford it without a salary), and cashed in my retirement to be able to move closer to family and support. I have very little energy most days; I try to use what I do have wisely. I rest/sleep a lot. I carry tremendous guilt because I "did this to myself" and I try hard not to be a burden to my family. I was someone who rarely took even an aspirin, now medications are a huge part of my life. I finally have Medicare, but it doesn't cover prescriptions, and they are so expensive. There may soon come a time when I have to pick the most important ones and let the rest go. I use oxygen at night. I try to count my blessings, fully appreciate what I do have, and remain positive, but I'm not always successful with that. Published: January 07 ::