Were you looking for information about Emphysema? Emphasema is a common misspelling of emphysema.
Emphysema is a lung disease that may develop after long-term exposure to cigarette smoke or other toxins. The cause of most cases is cigarette smoking. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and chronic mucus production. Treatment options include medications (such as corticosteroids) and oxygen therapy; surgery may be necessary in severe cases. The key to managing emphysema is to identify the disease as early as possible.
There are four
stages of emphysema: at-risk, mild, moderate, and severe. In order to determine if someone has emphysema and which stage he or she is in, the doctor will use a breathing test called spirometry. This is the most sensitive and commonly used test of lung function. It can detect the disease before significant symptoms appear.
(Click Emphysema for more information about how this degenerative disease affects the lungs, an in-depth discussion of tests doctors use to diagnose it, and more details about treatment options. You can also click any of the links in the box to the right for specific information.)
