Healthy lungs contain 300 million alveoli, elastic air sacs where oxygen enters the blood and carbon dioxide is removed from it. Emphysema develops when the alveoli membrane are destroyed. Though this process occurs slowly and does not affect all alveoli to the same extent, it does impair the lungs' ability to function, which increases the amount of time it takes for air to enter or exit the lungs. This results in shortness of breath.
Also called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema commonly affects long-term, heavy cigarette smokers, but cigar and pipe smokers are also at increased risk. Smoking causes irritation and breakdown of the alvioli.
Smokers are not the only people who develop emphysema, however. Occupational exposures to chemicals, dusts, and fumes can also put a person at risk. Some people are genetically predisposed to the condition, due to a deficiency of the enzyme alpha-1 antitrypsin, which protects the integrity of the elastic fibers in the walls of the alveoli. People with low levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin usually develop severe emphysema sometime in their 20s or 30s.
Signs and Symptoms
Shortness of breath that worsens with time
A chronic, mild cough that may produce small amounts of phlegm
Decreasing tolerance of physical activity
An enlarged chest
Weight loss
Conventional Medical Treatment
If you suspect you have emphysema, see your physician immediately. To diagnose emphysema, your doctor takes an inventory of your symptoms, reviews your medical history, and performs a lung function test and chest X-rays.
There is no cure for emphysema. Therapy can help you learn how to use your lungs as efficiently as possible, thus keeping the disease from progressing. You may also be taught breathing techniques to get the most of the limited airflow. To increase your lungs efficiency, engage in regular, non-strenuous exercise, such as walking or leisurely cycling. Your physician may prescribe a bronchodilator or anti-inflammatory medication, such as theophylline, sympathomimetics, anti-cholingergics, or corticosteroids.
In severe cases, home oxygen therapy-where pure oxygen is pumped through a tube from a portable tank-may be necessary. Surgery is also an option in severe cases. Relatively new surgical options include lung transplantation and volume reduction surgery, where up to 30 percent of the most diseased portions of lungs are removed.
Colitis, or ulcerative colitis as it is also known, is one of the two chronic disorders known as inflammatory bowel syndrome (the other is Crohn's disease). The exact cause of ulcerative colitis is still unknown, but the condition most commonly affects people of Jewish descent between the ages of 15 and 35 and those who have a family history of the disease.
Ulcerative colitis occurs when tiny ulcers and small abscesses develop on the interior walls of the colon, causing moderate to severe inflammation of the intestinal lining. This inflammation causes diarrhea and abdominal pain. Sometimes the ulcers bleed, streaking the diarrhea with blood. Ulcerative colitis usually affects only a small segment of the intestine, though the entire colon can be effected.
Most individuals with colitis have remission periods-during which they do not experience symptoms-that alternate with flare-ups. In some people these painful flare-ups are brought on by stress; in others the cause of flare-ups is less predictable. In the majority of cases, the condition is more a discomfort than a serious health risk. But approximately 15 percent of sufferers whose entire colons are affected are at increased risk of developing colon cancer.
Signs and Symptoms
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea that contains either blood or pus
Painful, urgent bowel movements
Fever
Fatigue and muscle weakness
Weight loss
Joint pain, skin problems, and eye problems
Conventional Medical Treatment
After taking a detailed history of your symptoms, a physician may perform a barium X-ray, colonoscopy, or sigmoidoscopy to arrive at a diagnosis. Treatment for ulcerative colitis is generally limited to symptomatic periods and typically includes an anti-inflammatory medication, such as sulfasalazine or corticosteroids. An estimated 20 to 25 percent of colitis patients do not respond to medication and need colostomy surgery to remove the affected portion of the colon. If you have had colitis for eight years or more, your physician may suggest an annual colonoscopy to check for cancerous growths.
Also Recommended
flaxseed oil (as directed on label)-protects the lining of the colon
garlic (as directed on label)-has a healing effect on the colon
Multimineral complex with calcium, chromium, magnesium, and zinc (as directed on label)-minerals are not easily absorbed in colitis victims; calcium is needed for the prevention of cancer, which can occur as a result of constant irritation
vitamin C with bioflavonoids (3000 to 5000 mg in divided doses)-boosts immune function and heals mucous membranes; use in buffered form
(For an acute condition, take supplements until your symptoms subside. If symptoms persist, seek the advice of your health care provider. For a chronic condition, consult your health care provider regarding the duration of treatment.)
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