Emphysema (cont.)
Medical Author:
Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM
Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEMDr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Medical Editor:
George Schiffman, MD, FCCP
George Schiffman, MD, FCCPDr. Schiffman received his B.S. degree with High Honors in biology from Hobart College in 1976. He then moved to Chicago where he studied biochemistry at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle. He attended Rush Medical College where he received his M.D. degree in 1982 and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed his Internal Medicine internship and residency at the University of California, Irvine. In this Article
 What are the stages of emphysema?Emphysema staging helps determine how much lung damage is present and how severe it is. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) uses FEV1 measurements to help with this determination:
What is the treatment for emphysema?
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Emphysema is not a curable disease, once lung damage has occurred it cannot be reversed. The goal of treatment is to stop further lung destruction and preserve lung function. The patient needs to know that the focus is on improving quality of life and limiting the intrusion of emphysema on daily activities. Emphysema tends not to be the primary cause of death, but can be a contributing factor to other organ failure. Smoking cessation
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The number one treatment goal is to have the patient stop smoking. Education, counseling, support groups and medication may be used. Moreover, prevention is most important, and not starting to smoke is much easier than helping a person to quit smoking. Reviewed by George Schiffman, MD, FCCP on 9/28/2011 Patient CommentsViewers share their comments
Emphysema - Causes and Risks
Question: If known, what was the cause of your emphysema?
Emphysema - Diagnosis
Question: What kinds of tests and exams did you have that led to a diagnosis of emphysema?
Emphysema - Treatment
Question: Please describe the treatments, therapies, and medications you've received for emphysema.
Emphysema - Smoking
Question: Are/were you a smoker prior to your emphysema diagnosis? If you've stopped, what worked for you?
Emphysema - Rehabilitation
Question: Please share suggestions and tips for exercising and rehabilitating to control your emphysema.
Emphysema - Describe Your Experience
Question: Please describe your experience with emphysema.
Emphysema - Symptoms
Question: What were the symptoms of your emphysema?
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