Emphysema

Despite being largely associated in former days with miners who inhaled coal dust from primitive pit conditions, nowadays many cases of emphysema would appear to be caused by cigarette smoking. Atmospheric pollution is sometimes still a predisposing factor and, in rare cases, emphysema is inherited, but in the main this painful and often fatal disease is attributed to inhaling tobacco smoke.  However, many sufferers have never smoked and many heavy smokers do not develop emphysema.  This may mean that there is another primary cause of the disease.

Emphysema is a disease in which the alveoli (tiny air sacs) in the lungs become damaged.  This, in turn, leads to shortness of breath and, in severe cases, to respiratory failure or heart failure.  In order to understand the progress of the disease, it helps to know a little about the mechanics of breathing.  Firstly, the role of the all-important alveoli: inhaled oxygen is passed into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide is removed from capillaries to be breathed out through the walls of the alveoli which line the lungs.  Tobacco smoke and other pollutants provoke the alveoli to release chemicals that damage their walls.  As the damage gets progressively worse, the oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange is impaired, making the lungs progressively less efficient.  Eventually, the level of oxygen in the blood falls, with one of two effects.  Either pulmonary hypertension develops, leading to cor pulmonale (enlargement and strain on the right-and side of the heart) and subsequently to oedema (accumulation of fluid in tissues), particularly in the lower legs; or patients compensate for the loss of oxygen by breathing faster.  Unfortunately, however much a sufferer tries to compensate by breathing more rapidly, if the condition is left untreated and/or a patient continues to smoke, they will find it increasingly difficult to breathe.

Emphysema is often accompanied by chronic bronchitis, which is also brought on by smoking and air pollutants.

THE ORTHODOX APPROACH

The characteristic symptoms of emphysema for which a physician will be looking include shortness of breath, first noticed on exertion but eventually present even at rest; bluish lips; possibly a barrel-shaped chest; a chronic cough and/or a slight wheeze.  From these signs, a chest examination and various other tests, emphysema may be diagnosed.  The tests may include a blood sample from an artery to measure blood gases; a venous blood sample to establish levels of alpha-antitrypsin (present in the rare cases on inherited emphysema); a chest x-ray to exclude other causes and determine the extent of the disease’s spread; and pulmonary function tests to assess breathing capacity and the efficiency of the alveoli.

Emphysema is incurable, so any treatment will only control the disease.  First and foremost, the patient must stop smoking completely.  Bronchodilator drugs are given to widen the bronchioles and ease breathing.  Occasionally, corticosteroid drugs, taken by an inhaler, are used to reduce inflammation.  If edema is present, diuretic drugs are prescribed to reduce the volume of fluid.  In extreme cases, oxygen therapy may be used.

THE HALE APPROACH

Emphysema, being a loss of lung tissue, can lead to episodes of severe shortness of breath, often worsened by over-riding infection.  Modern drugs may be necessary and therefore emphysema should initially be diagnosed and monitored by your physician.  However, no orthodox treatment has methods of recuperating damaged or destroyed lung tissue, whereas complementary therapies aim at just that.

Complementary medicine cannot yet offer a cure for emphysema; however, it can not only relieve the severe symptoms, it can also considerably delay the onset of the disease.

The Hale Clinic would highly recommend the Buteyko breathing technique as a tool which the patient can use to relieve symptoms.

Also of assistance are osteopathy or the G.D.S. Technique combined with acupuncture and healing.

ACUPUNCTURE

In less advanced cases of emphysema, where the lungs are not too badly damaged, acupuncturists have been able to ease a patient’s breathing and improve blood circulation in the lungs, so bringing some relief to the sufferer.  They do this by applying needles on the acupuncture points on the lung meridian, and, depending on the cause and effect of the emphysema, other meridians as well.  For example, many emphysema victims suffer badly with mucus, so this problem would also be addressed using the appropriate acupuncture points. More about acupuncture...

OSTEOPATHY

Some emphysema sufferers have gained relief from their symptoms using osteopathy.  “There are certain osteopathic moves that help to empty the congested pockets of the lungs”, explains one osteopath.  “The upper dorsal region of the spine supplies the heart and lungs, so we would loosen up that area in particular.  Emphysema sufferers are often afflicted with congested gall-bladder problems, so a little work on the abdominal area can help.  I would certainly also give dietary advice and probably treat them with herbs as well”.

As this is a chronic, long-term illness, a sufferer would probably need an initial course of treatment to improve their condition and then perhaps a monthly consultation to keep things in order.  More about osteopathy...

SUPPORTIVE TREATMENTS

Energy Healing

For a condition such as emphysema healers will work in conjunction with other therapists to bring relief of symptoms and to help improve the patient’s breathing.  Healing is a completely non-invasive therapy during which the patient lies down while the practitioner channels healing energy through to them.  Some patients experience heat, cold, or tingling sensations, and the treatment will almost certainly be a powerful experience for them.