Treatment of emphysema in the elderly

Emphysema is caused by some lung diseases. Common causes are bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis. People nowadays are prone to some lung diseases. If long-term lung diseases are not well treated, it is very likely to lead to emphysema. Especially the elderly are more likely to suffer from emphysema. Let us look at the treatment of emphysema in the elderly.

Emphysema is a very common disease among the elderly. It is a disease in which the alveolar ducts and bronchi are destroyed. Elderly emphysema needs to be well treated and maintained. Everyone should understand the treatment of elderly emphysema. Only scientific treatment can alleviate the symptoms of the disease.

treat

When chronic bronchitis is complicated by emphysema, gradually worsening breathing difficulties appear on the basis of the original symptoms such as coughing and expectoration. At first, shortness of breath occurs only when working, going upstairs or climbing mountains, and climbing slopes; as the disease progresses, shortness of breath is also felt when moving on flat ground or even at rest. When chronic bronchitis has an acute attack, bronchial secretions increase, further aggravating ventilation dysfunction, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, symptoms of respiratory failure may occur, such as cyanosis, headache, drowsiness, and confusion.

(I) Appropriate use of bronchodilator drugs, such as aminophylline and β2 receptor stimulants. If allergic factors exist, corticosteroids can be used appropriately.

(ii) Use effective antibiotics based on pathogens or experience, such as penicillin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, cephalosporin, etc.

(III) Exercise the respiratory function. Do abdominal breathing, purse your lips and exhale slowly and deeply to strengthen the activity of the respiratory muscles and increase the activity of the diaphragm.

(IV) Home oxygen therapy: 12-15 hours of oxygen per day can prolong life. If continuous oxygen therapy can be achieved for 24 hours per day, the effect will be even better.

(V) Physical therapy: a plan is developed according to the condition, such as Qigong, Tai Chi, breathing exercises, fixed-rate walking or ladder climbing exercises.

(VI) Prevention. First of all, quit smoking. Keep warm, avoid colds, and prevent colds. Improve environmental hygiene, do a good job of personal labor protection, and eliminate and avoid the effects of smoke, dust and irritating gases on the respiratory tract.

maintainance

Emphysema mostly occurs in the elderly, and patients with long-term lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis or asthma are prone to emphysema. Emphysema can cause expiratory dyspnea, making it easy for air to enter but difficult to exit, hindering gas exchange and increasing pulmonary circulatory resistance. It can thus develop into cor pulmonale and ultimately lead to heart failure, respiratory failure and pulmonary-cerebral syndrome. Elderly patients with emphysema should perform daily maintenance to delay the progression of the disease. How to maintain emphysema in the elderly? Let me introduce it to you below.

1. Elderly patients with emphysema should pay attention to the nutritional content of their diet and supplement with more protein foods. People with heart failure should avoid salt. If you eat less for a long time and use diuretics, you should pay attention to replenishing potassium ions. Among foods, oranges, bananas, and fresh mushrooms have higher potassium ion content.

2. To maintain emphysema in the elderly, records should be kept of daily food intake, water intake, and urine and feces output.

3. Elderly people with emphysema should quit smoking and pay attention to avoid inhalation of smoke and harmful gases in daily care.

3. Patients with chronic respiratory failure in the recovery period can perform abdominal breathing. Since the patient's ability to use the thoracic respiratory muscles for gas exchange has reached its limit, it is necessary to fully mobilize the abdominal diaphragm to assist in breathing, increase oxygen uptake and effective ventilation volume, in order to compensate for insufficient ventilation and alleviate symptoms.

Everyone should know about the treatment of elderly emphysema. For such a disease, the most important thing that cannot be ignored is some early treatment. While undergoing treatment, prognostic measures should be taken. Don't smoke, keep warm and don't get cold, prevent colds, and do some appropriate exercise in your daily life.