Once somebody has been diagnosed with emphysema, how long could they potentially live?

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I know there's not set in stone answer as to how long someone has left as all cases are different. But I've been talking to this guy and debating whether or not to introduce him to my kids because they both have seen their fathers walk out of their lives and I won't introduce them to another guy if he's not gonna be the one to stick around for good. Well he just told me this morning that he has "beginning stages" of emphysema. He's 26. Could he still live a normal life and grow old?
Wow 26 is young to have emphysema. My Mum was diagnosed at 70 and died at 87. At 26 if he looks after himself I would guess he could live into his 50's/60's. I'm not a doctor so I'm just guessing. If I were him I'd go healthy in a big way.No smoking or drinking alcohol, organic food, excercise in moderation, no drugs unless prescribed. Hope it works out:-)  (+ info)

how can i get emphysema when i dont smoke?

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I went to Dr and had cat scan for pancreas,which was normal.
But in the radiologists report also he says i have MILD emphysema?
How can this be?I NEVER smoked and run and exercise?
Can i live a long life with this as long as i take meds?
Emphysema can be caused by pretty much any air pollution, be it cigarettes (which it isn't in your case) or exhaust fumes. When you run and exercise it wouldn't be outside in a polluted area by any chance?

Chances are that if you keep taking your meds then you'll outlive me at least.  (+ info)

How long can a person in the advanced stages of emphysema expect to live.?

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My stepfather has emphysema and acute respiratory disease. He is now taking morphine and was in a nursing home for about 7 weeks. He is back home now but we wonder how long he has realistically and if there is anything significant about him being on morphine.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, are major cripplers caused by cigarette smoking. While emphysema is not as deadly as lung cancer, patients with it often envy patients with cancer. People with lung cancer will usually die within six months of diagnosis. Patients with advanced stages of emphysema are permanently crippled, but it may take years for them to die from it.

God bless you and your family!  (+ info)

what are some side effects of emphysema?

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I know that emphysema is a lung disease, but does it effect anything other than the lungs and breathing?
side effects that i would be able to see. the reason i'm asking is becuase once my grandma was diagnosed she was in a wheel chair, and there were other things wrong, i'm just not sure if it was because of the emphysema or other health issues. my gma and dad didn't really get along so its kinda weird to bring it up.
Yes. Emphysema affects things other than the respiratory system. The heart: tachycardia (abnormally rapid heartbeat; The brain: restlessness, anxiety, confusion, depression; The musculoskeletal system: weakness. The biggest side effect is a slow, inevitable death due to complications.  (+ info)

What would keep a pulse ox low on a hospital patient with emphysema who is on all the necessary meds.?

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My mother entered the hospital with bronchitis. She also has emphysema but has never needed anything but an inhaler (combivent). When she went in her pulse ox was 70%. She has been in the hospital for over a week and they can't bring it up above 84%. The Drs. can't figure it out. Does anyone have any ideas?
those dr.'s are crazy. first they need to put oxygen on your mom to bring her 02 sat over 90% or greater. (asap)

have dr's put her on oxygen immediately. when she is on oxygen maybe put her on 2-3 liters per minute (or LPM) & keep a log on her progess & have them
check her pulse ox every 4 hrs with the oxygen.

pls. don' let her leave without oxygen from the hospital. dr. needs to write a prescription for supplemental oxygen at home & order it from a medical equipment supplier. they should bring her an 02 tank to the hospital to leave with (if going home by car) & then they will set her oxygen machine at home. your mom will defenitely need oxygen therapy when at home.


health care worker & provider
assist with respiratory therapy  (+ info)

What are long term affects of lack of oxygen to legs in Emphysema?

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re an answer ......
"Muscles are not getting enough oxygen and are therefore switching to anaerobic respiration. This produces acid which collects and causes aches and pains.
If this is the case, it ties in with poor circulation."

Do you know what the long term affect of poor circulation and lack of oxygen to the legs might be?

I have emphysema and am noticing more and more re the aches and stiffness in the legs when I go for my walks and other activity to try and keep fit.

The docs dont seem interested in these symptoms, but I would like to know what I can do to help myself and what I may be in for if I can't correct it.

Will Massage help? Alternate Hot / Cold shower on feet legs?

The lymph glands on the inside of the knees are tender and I get leg and foot cramps at night for which I am finding Mag Phos Tissue salts useful.

Any useful suggestions welcome.
I have been a non smoker for over a year, my oxygen levels (when nurse takes it on finger is always ok).
The cramping is a result of your lung diseases. It is caused by a buildup of lactic acid. Lactic acid is produced in the body, mainly by muscle tissue and red blood cells. Lactic acid is a result of the breakdown of sugars (carbohydrates) for energy when the oxygen level in the body is low. When a normal amount of oxygen is available to the body's cells, carbohydrates normally break down into water and carbon dioxide. Therefore, the amount of lactic acid in the blood depends on how much oxygen is available to the body.

Lactic acid levels rise when strenuous exercise or other conditions-such as heart failure, a severe infection (sepsis), or shock-reduce the flow of blood and delivery of oxygen throughout the body. Lactic acid levels can also rise when the liver is severely damaged or diseased, because the liver normally breaks down lactic acid.

The use of supplemental oxygen while exercising (walking, doing housework, etc.) could help reduce the cramping. Pulmonary rehab could be valuable as well. Talk with your pulmonologist and let him/her know you have cramping. Your doctor should not be ignoring this problem. I have a lung disease and this is an issue that causes a great deal of pain and discomfort. You are going through the same kind of agony professional athletes do when they have cramps. Good luck and I hope this helped answer your question.  (+ info)

repeated coughing causes emphysema. why this reduce the amount of oxygen that can be absorbed into the blood?

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repeated coughing causes emphysema. Explain why this reduces the amount of oxygen that can be absorbed into the blood?
Coughing doesn't cause emphysema. 95% of emphysema patients have it because they smoked. Smoking causes emphysema. Emphysema and smoking causes coughing.

The reduced amount of oxygen that can be absorbed into the blood is because smoking destroys the air sacs in the lungs. They loose their elasticity and become enlarged and floppy losing service area. The membrane between the air sacs will thicken and become less porous. The loss of service area and the thick membrane will prevent oxygen from passing through to the blood stream.  (+ info)

Can you get free medical if you have emphysema?

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my boyfriend just got diagnosed with emphysema, and one of his prescriptions cost $100.00 and there is no way we can afford that.
generally no

There are programs that the drug companies have if you qualify for free medication. Contact the manufacturer of the drug.

Also you can apply for medicaid if the income is low enough.  (+ info)

What is the difference between emphysema and sever emphysema?

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I don't mean to sound ignorant but I am that is why i'm asking, does it mean that 50% of the lungs are infected what is the ratio, this is important to me.
Differences would be determined by a pulmonary function test.
The American Thoracic Society classifies mild as an FEV1 >50% of predicted and severe as an FEV1 <35% of predicted.The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease classifies mild as an FEV1 > 80% but FEV1/FVC <70% of predicted and severe as <30% of predicted.
So the difference would be with the patients FEV1 score.The more severe the emphysema, the slower the air is exhaled even when they try to forcefully exhale.

FEV1=Forced expiratory volume in 1 second(amount you can exhale in the 1st second of a forced exhalation)
FVC=Forced vital capacity(total amount of air that can forcibly be blown out after full inspiration)
Hope this helps(^_^)  (+ info)

What's a good gift to give someone with emphysema?

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My stepfather has emphysema. He has trouble getting around and his eye sight isn't the greatest any ideas on what to get him?
How about the gift of yourself? Since he has trouble getting around and seeing, maybe you could give him a "gift certificate" that entitles him to an hour a week (or month, or whatever) of your time, during which you can help around the house, read the newspaper to him, run errands for him, drive him to a medical appointment, etc.  (+ info)

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