HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

What Is The Treatment For Emphysema?

Posted on Tue, 1 Apr 2014

Question: My girlfriend is 56 years old. She was a heavy smoker for a long time but gave it up eleeven years ago. She had a Ct scan which came back with a diagnosis of severe Emphysema. This shocked and depressed us greatly. She is in good health overall. She is active in gardening and landscaping. She retired from a very good New Yourk State position two years ago and has a relatively low stree lifestyle ( no children ) I love her very much and want to enjoy retirement with her. Is it possible she can live a relatively long life with decent health ?

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Need to know her current symptoms. Detailed Answer: Dear Friend. Welcome to HCM. I am Dr Anshul Varshney. I have read your query in details. I understand your concern. Emphysema is a Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is mainly due to smoking. If the disease is asymptomatic it's great. But if symptoms are there I need to know them for a better answer how her life would be probably. Tell me what's symptoms she has. Also share with me blood investigations. Especially Arterial Blood Gas Analysis and Hemogram if done. Reply with these for a better help.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Anshul Varshney (16 minutes later)

Thankyou Doctor. She appears asymptomatic at this point. I know she will be working with her current Doctor(s) What concerns me is that she found out about her diagnosis through a letter receive in regular mail. Is this a good thin? If her medical professional though her condition was bad wouldn't they have wanted to confer with her directly? I love this Woman so very much and wish to marry her. Please give me some hope doc. I am very sad. As for me, I'm in great shape, eat right and don't smoke.

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney (2 hours later)

Brief Answer: I would suggest further workup Detailed Answer: Dear Friend. I am touched by seeing your love for her. I really appreciate. I can't comment on the protocol of the doctor's at your place, but i do believe in disclosing the report when the patient is in front of me. Anyways , if she is asymptomatic , she will live a good life. But somehow , i feel that she must be having some problem or other, that's why your doctors got her investigated. I have a large no. of patients living with Emphysema , they are on treatment for their symptoms. If well controlled with drugs one can enjoy and live a happy life. We can't reverse the emphysema , but yes , we can control the symptoms well. I would in addition want you to get her following investigations in order to see for any complications of emphysema, if she has developed : 1. Hemogram with ESR 2. ECG 3. Echocardiography 4. Arterial Blood Gas Analysis. I would be very happy to help you once again , when you have her reports. I wish you both a very happy and healthy life full of love and care for each other. God bless you. If you don't have any further query, you may please close the discussion and rate it. Stay Healthy.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar