Unit 1: Lung Disease - Emphysema
- Created by: rosieevie
- Created on: 16-05-14 10:23
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- Emphysema
- Causes
- Smoking or long-term exposure to air pollution
- Phagocytes attracted to inflammation and produce enzyme that breaks down elastin
- Surface area of alveoli reduced and they sometimes burst
- Alveoli walls thicken increasing diffusion pathway
- Symptoms
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty exhaling air due to loss of elasticity of the lungs = lack of oxygen
- Smaller surface area = reduced blood oxygen levels
- Oxygen supply attempted to be increased by rapid breathing
- Chronic cough
- Body's effort to remove damaged tissue and mucus
- Blue skin colouration
- Low levels of oxygen from poor gas diffusion in lungs
- Shortness of breath
- Causes
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