The primary cause of emphysema is smoking cigarettes. CH and other patients with emphysema are at risk of the destruction of the alveoli and different cancers, coronary artery diseases, heart failures, cerebral vascular diseases, osteoporosis, and some anxiety diseases. Emphysema is a complex respiratory disease and is usually associated with various systemic symptoms. A low BMI and relatively high rates of dyspnoea contribute to impaired exercise tolerance and promote a dreadful forecast beyond the respiratory obstruction. Emphysema sufferers are vulnerable to some conditions such as lung cancer, anemia, depression, coronary artery diseases, and dysfunctional skeletal myopathy. COPD has been proposed as a manifestation of a systemic inflammatory syndrome and is associated with some additional conditions in patients suffering from the same (Divo et al., 2012).
CH suffers from emphysema due to smoking and is expected to have ‘barrel’ configuration to the chest. ‘Barrel’ chest is the rounded and bulging chest that resembles a barrel shape and develops at a later stage of emphysema due to chronic overinflation of lungs such that the rib cage stays partially expanded always. This condition interferes with regular breathing and results in shortness of breath. ‘Barrel’ chest condition is not treated, but rather the underlying emphysema disease when it becomes severe (Olson, 2016).
Lab values drawn from a physician visit would reveal an abnormality in arterial gasses because patients with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases suffer from mild to moderate hypoxemia without hypercapnia. I think that CH and other patients are at a risk of the pathologic process of their illness, including hematocrit, arterial blood gas analysis, serum bicarbonate, sputum evaluation, and serum alpha 1- antitrypsin. Emphysema is dangerous and may result in some complications. It cannot be treated, but various medications are recommended to provide relief from symptoms. For example, bronchodilators, oxygen therapy, and corticosteroids. Sufferers should take this medication seriously to prevent collapsed lungs, heart issues, and giant bullae (large holes) in the lungs ("Emphysema Complications - Mayo Clinic", 2014).
References
Divo, M., Cote, C., DeTorres, J. P., Casanova, C., Marin, J. M., Pinto, V. P., Cabrera, C. (2012, July 15). Comorbidities and risk of mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 186, 155-165. http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201201-0034OC
Emphysema Complications - Mayo Clinic. (2014). Mayoclinic.org. Retrieved 8 June 2016, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/emphysema/basics/complications/con-20014218
Olson, E. (2016). Barrel chest: What causes it? - Mayo Clinic. Mayoclinic.org. Retrieved 8 June 2016, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/expert-answers/barrel-chest/faq-20058419
