2. What is Emphysema?
A condition in our body
in which the air sacs
of the lungs, called
alveolus are
damaged and
enlarge, causing
breathlessness.
3. How Does It Happen?
1. Constant inflammation that occurs to our
lungs will cause infection and existence of
bacteria.
2. Phagocyte that work in white blood cells to
remove bacteria from our body will go to our
lungs when they’re infected.
4. 3. Phagocytes release protein digesting
enzyme elastase on their way to reach
lungs from capillaries.
4. That enzyme destroys elastin in the walls
of the alveoli.
5. 5. Our body needs elastin to take
responsibility for the recoil of the alveoli
when we breath out.
6. When the elastin is decreased because
of that enzymes, a large space appears
and reduces the surface area for
gaseous change.
6. What are the Effects to Our
Body?
People with emphysema will not
oxygenated their blood well.
They can’t remove carbon dioxide from
their blood and lungs.
They have a rapid breathing rate.
8. Causes of Emphysema:
Cigarette smoking
Air pollution
Gender; men are more
likely to develop
emphysema than women
People’s age; older age is
a risk factor for
emphysema
9. Treatments:
It depends on the disease’s level:
Mild level: Medications and
daily exercise
Moderate level: Medications,
use of inhalers, and daily
exercise.
Severe level: Medications and
surgery.
10. The most efficient solutions for
us to keep away from the
disease are to stop smoking or
say no to smoking habit, and
avoid all exposure to cigarette
smoke and lung irritants.
11. Bibliography:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emphysema
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/emphysema/pag
e2_em.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/emphysema.h
tml
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/emphysema/pag
e3_em.htm
AS Level and A Level Biology Second Edition
