Is severe emphysema in both lungs serious?
Aug 11, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Guo Xiheng
Introduction
Emphysema in both lungs must be assessed according to disease severity. If emphysema involves both lungs rather than being localized, the condition is generally more severe, as emphysema is not a stable pathological process. Emphysema does not remain static once diagnosed; it is inherently an unstable disease. This is because the lung’s native architecture is highly stable—packed densely with numerous alveoli—and thus normally resistant to pathological change.
The lungs are located on both sides of the chest. Some patients develop localized emphysema, meaning only a small portion of one lung is affected. Emphysema confined to a specific area is termed “localized emphysema,” whereas chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) typically involves emphysematous changes in both lungs—termed “bilateral emphysema.” So, how serious is bilateral emphysema?
How serious is bilateral emphysema?
The severity of bilateral emphysema depends on the extent and progression of the disease. Bilateral emphysema is generally more severe than localized emphysema because emphysema is not a stable or static condition. It does not remain unchanged after diagnosis; rather, it is highly progressive and unstable. The lung’s original architecture is inherently very stable—packed densely with numerous alveoli—and normally functions without issue. However, certain factors—including exposure to environmental pollutants, chronic pulmonary inflammation, or smoking—can cause airway obstruction, trapping air within the lungs and leading to alveolar rupture.
In this scenario, imagine a tightly packed crowd where some individuals in the center suddenly collapse. Once that happens, the entire group destabilizes and collapses toward the point of failure. Similarly, the lung undergoes such structural collapse.
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