Emphysema: Its Risk Factors

We know smoking is injurious to health. It causes severe lung injury and increases its vulnerability to different types of infections. A smoking induced disease is emphysema. In emphysema the air becomes trapped in the lung air sacs, damaging and enlarging them further. Emphysema is part of the COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease group.

The symptoms of this lung disorder often remain non-acute, but chronic. People suffering from emphysema have respiratory discomfort, difficulty when exhaling, and recurrent lung infections. Symptoms are slowly progressing and therefore often remain undetected in the first stage. Learning about emphysema risk factors will better protect you from this lung disease.

Emphysema Risk Factors

Tobacco smoking – cigarette smokers are at great risk of developing emphysema; however, those who smoke pipe or cigar are not spared either. It only depends on the genetic make-up and the number of years under the addiction.

Aging increases the risk  –  vitamin D production decreases in elders and it was proved to have a great impact on healthy lungs.

Exposure to passive smoking – people who are regularly exposed to passive smoking are also at great risk of developing emphysema.

Occupational exposure to harmful fumes – people who are working in polluted environments are also at risk; regular exposure to fumes of cotton, mining products, paint, silica, grain or woods may increase the risk of emphysema.

Exposure to pollution –  regular and high-degree exposure to harmful pollutants like fumes of fuel, car emission, coal fumes, dust and grime.

To stay healthy and avoid chronic respiratory diseases such as emphysema, asthma, COPD and others, using home salt therapy is a good start. The salt aerosol helps in strengthening the respiratory mucosa to allergens. It also helps to clean the pollutants from the respiratory system. Maintaining a good hygiene on the respiratory tract is a priority today!