What causes pulmonary emphysema?

     Pulmonary emphysema refers to emphysema. Generally, emphysema may be caused by smoking, air pollution, occupational exposure, recurrent respiratory infections, and imbalances between proteases and antiproteases. Symptomatic management usually involves general treatment and medication. If any physical discomfort occurs, prompt medical attention is necessary to avoid delaying treatment. Detailed explanations are as follows:

     1. Smoking

     Harmful substances in tobacco, such as nicotine and tar, can damage airway epithelial cells, weaken ciliary movement, and reduce airway clearance capacity. These harmful substances can also cause airway inflammatory responses, leading to airway narrowing and weakened elastic recoil of the alveoli, which can result in emphysema. It is recommended to quit smoking persistently in daily life to help prevent this disease.

     2. Air Pollution

     Long-term exposure to polluted air, such as industrial emissions and automobile exhaust, can damage the lungs. Harmful gases in the air, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, can irritate respiratory mucosa and trigger inflammatory responses. Exposure to harmful gases, such as industrial emissions and automobile exhaust, should be avoided, and indoor air should be kept fresh.

     3. Occupational Exposure

     Long-term engagement in specific occupations, such as mining, metal processing, and agriculture, can lead to chronic lung inflammation and oxidative stress, damaging lung tissue and eventually developing into emphysema. It is recommended to improve the work environment and adopt effective personal protective measures, such as wearing dust masks.

     4. Recurrent Respiratory Infections

     Repeated respiratory infections caused by viruses or bacteria can cause inflammation of the airways and lungs. Inflammation can damage the structure of the airways and alveolar walls, resulting in thickened airway walls, narrowed lumens, and reduced alveolar elasticity. Infections can also prompt the body to release inflammatory mediators, further aggravating lung damage and increasing the risk of developing emphysema. It is recommended to use medications such as aspirin tablets, ibuprofen capsules, and oseltamivir phosphate capsules under the guidance of a physician.

     5. Protease-Antiprotease Imbalance

     Under normal circumstances, proteases and antiproteases in the body are in a state of balance. When certain factors disrupt this balance, such as smoking or infection, it can lead to increased protease activity or insufficient antiprotease levels. Once this balance is disturbed, elastic fibers are excessively degraded, and the alveolar walls are damaged, making emphysema more likely to develop. It is recommended to use medications such as prednisone acetate tablets, dexamethasone acetate tablets, and atorvastatin calcium tablets under the guidance of a physician.

     In daily life, it is recommended to maintain good living habits and wear masks when going out to help reduce the occurrence of lung diseases.

     References

     [1] Wu ZH, Zhang TT. Quantitative Analysis of Chest CT in COPD. International Journal of Medical Radiology, 2025, 48(01):86-90.

     [2] Huang DX, Li L, Tuo YJ. Research Progress in Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis Combined with Emphysema. Journal of Clinical Pulmonary Medicine, 2024, 29(12):1918-1923.