Today in America, more than 3 million people have emphysema and 9 million have chronic bronchitis. Yet even though both conditions are fairly widespread and many people understand that they are lung conditions that make breathing difficult, some people still confuse the two.
Lesley Williams, Registered Respiratory Therapist and Apria’s Market Clinical Trainer, states, “Our customers often ask us questions about emphysema and chronic bronchitis: what they are, how they’re different, how they are related to COPD. And we make it a priority to answer these questions. Because the first step to effectively managing these conditions is to understand them.”
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis can occur together. And although they have some similarities, there are also important differences.
Emphysema is a progressive disease that gets worse over time.
Your lungs have tiny air sacs called alveoli, which supply oxygen to the blood. When you have emphysema, these air sacs become damaged or are destroyed. As a result, your lungs lose their elasticity, less oxygen enters your blood, and breathing becomes harder.
The main symptom of emphysema is shortness of breath. Other symptoms include:
Chronic bronchitis is the irritation and inflammation of your bronchial tubes, which carry oxygen to and from your lungs. This irritation damages the tiny hairs, called cilia, that help remove phlegm from your lungs. The result: mucus builds up, causing a “wet” cough that lasts more than three months. In some cases, chronic bronchitis causes your airways to narrow, making breathing especially hard.
The main symptom of chronic bronchitis is a frequent cough with mucus. Other symptoms include:
Smoking cigarettes is the biggest cause of both emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Air pollution and other pollutants increase your risk.
Emphysema can be also caused by a genetic condition called AAT (alpha-1 antitrypsin) deficiency. AAT is a protein that protects your lungs from damage. AAT deficiency is an inherited condition. People who have it may also develop liver problems.
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a condition that can contribute to chronic bronchitis. When you have GERD, stomach acid flows back up into your mouth through your esophagus, irritating your throat.
Many of the same tests help doctors diagnose both emphysema and chronic bronchitis:
Apria’s Lesley Williams adds, “If your doctor suspects your emphysema is caused by AAT deficiency, you may also undergo an AAT test.”
There’s no cure for emphysema or chronic bronchitis. But there are effective treatments to help manage both conditions. These include:
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a leading cause of death in the United States and affects more than 16 million Americans.
Lesley Williams adds, “Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the most common conditions that contribute to COPD.”
As with emphysema and chronic bronchitis, smoking cigarettes is the major cause of COPD, accounting for more than 90% of COPD cases.
COPD presents many of the same symptoms as the other conditions, such as shortness of breath and frequent coughing.
It is also diagnosed with many of the same tests: imaging tests, pulmonary function tests, and arterial blood gas analysis. And many of the same methods are used to treat it: medications, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation programs, and surgery.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms discussed here, contact your doctor. With proper, timely treatment, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and COPD can be effectively managed!
We offer custom treatment plans, work closely with your physician’s office care team to manage your COPD through its many stages, deliver a wide range of treatment options, and provide ongoing monitoring to optimize your treatment. Learn more.
References
1. Pagán, CN. Emphysema vs. Chronic Bronchitis. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/emphysema-chronic-bronchitis-differences.
2. Sissons, B. (2019, July 1). Emphysema vs. chronic bronchitis. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325616.
3. Emphysema vs. chronic bronchitis: Understanding the differences. National Emphysema Foundation. http://www.emphysemafoundation.org/index.php/about-uss/privacy/83-copd-emphysema-articles/428-emphysema-vs-chronic-bronchitis-understanding-the-differences.
4. Holland, K. (2018, November 12). Emphysema vs. Chronic Bronchitis: Is There a Difference? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/copd/emphysema-vs-chronic-bronchitis.
5. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Emphysema.
Columbia University Surgery. https://columbiasurgery.org/conditions-and-treatments/emphysema-and-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-copd.
6. Leader, D. (2020, May 12). Differences Between Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema. VeryWell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-difference-between-emphysema-and-chronic-bronchitis-914876.
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