Emphysema
Living with emphysema can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. At TwelveStone Health Partners, we provide personalized care, expert guidance, and specialized treatments to help you breathe easier and live better.What Is Chronic Emphysema?
Chronic emphysema is a progressive lung disease and a chronic condition that damages the tiny air sacs (alveoli) responsible for oxygen exchange. When these structures weaken and rupture, they create larger, less efficient air spaces, making breathing increasingly difficult.
While emphysema causes permanent lung changes, the right treatment plan can significantly slow progression.
Emphysema vs COPD
COPD is an umbrella term for multiple conditions affecting airflow, and emphysema is one of them. All emphysema is COPD, but not all COPD is emphysema. Your provider may use these terms interchangeably or specify emphysema when air sac damage is the primary concern.
Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
Many people with emphysema also experience chronic bronchitis—inflammation of the bronchial tubes, causing excess mucus and persistent coughing. When these conditions occur together, they compound breathing difficulties, and treatment typically addresses both simultaneously.
Emphysema Symptoms
Recognizing symptoms early gives you the best opportunity to slow disease progression and maintain quality of life.
Early Symptoms of Emphysema
Early emphysema often presents subtly—shortness of breath during activities that never challenged you before, mild persistent cough, occasional wheezing, and general fatigue. If these symptoms sound familiar, speak with your healthcare provider promptly.
Severe or Advanced Emphysema Symptoms
As emphysema progresses, symptoms become more pronounced:
Emphysema Flare Ups and Breathing Difficulties
Periodic flare-ups (exacerbations) involve sudden symptom worsening, often triggered by infections, pollution, or cold weather. Having an action plan helps you respond quickly. Your TwelveStone care team can develop a personalized flare-up management strategy with you.
What Causes Emphysema?
To help prevent and treat emphysema, it’s important to know what causes it.
Smoking and Tobacco Use
Cigarette smoking causes the vast majority of emphysema cases. Tobacco chemicals gradually destroy the delicate alveoli over time. Even after years of smoking, quitting now can slow progression and improve your health.
Air Pollution and Occupational Exposure
Long-term exposure to industrial pollutants, chemical fumes, and particulate matter can contribute to emphysema, even in non-smokers. High-risk occupations include mining, construction, manufacturing, and agriculture.
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic condition that increases emphysema risk, often at younger ages. This protein normally protects your lungs from damage. TwelveStone Health Partners offers targeted therapies specifically for AATD patients.
Other Lifestyle and Environmental Risks
Additional factors include aging, frequent childhood respiratory infections, asthma, and indoor air pollution from burning wood or biomass fuels in poorly ventilated spaces.
How Emphysema Is Diagnosed
Diagnosis involves evaluating symptoms, medical history, and spirometry—a breathing test that measures airflow. Additional tests may include chest imaging, blood gas analysis, and genetic testing for AATD.
How We Treat Emphysema
TwelveStone Health Partners specializes in advanced infusion therapies for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency-related emphysema, delivered with personalized attention and expert care.
Slowing Emphysema Progression
While existing lung damage is irreversible, you can significantly slow emphysema progression. Quitting smoking is the most crucial step; your healthcare team offers cessation support.
Protect your lungs by avoiding environmental irritants: stay indoors during periods of poor air quality, use HEPA air purifiers, wear respiratory protection at work, and avoid harsh chemicals/aerosols.
Healthy lifestyle choices also help: engage in regular physical activity, attend pulmonary rehabilitation, learn breathing techniques (like pursed-lip breathing), maintain a healthy weight, and get flu and pneumonia vaccinations to prevent dangerous respiratory infections.
Organizational Resources
The COPD Foundation was established to undertake initiatives that result in expanded services for COPD and to improve the lives of individuals affected by COPD. The Foundation’s activities focus on achieving these results through research, education and advocacy programs that will lead to prevention and a cure for this disease.
The NEF’s mission is to improve the quality of life of patients with emphysema and their caregivers by providing and supporting educational, advocacy and research initiatives to the medical community and the general public. The NEF is dedicated to working to reduce the suffering and the toll emphysema is taking on innumerable sufferers in this country and abroad.
New Patient Resources
Take the Next Step Toward Easier Breathing
At TwelveStone Health Partners, our dedicated team is ready to walk alongside you with the specialized treatments, personalized support, and compassionate guidance you need to manage emphysema with confidence. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or seeking better solutions for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, we’re here to help you breathe easier—starting today.
Contact us to learn how our infusion therapy services can support your journey to better lung health.
