What are the latest treatments for emphysema?

Answer 1

Don't smoke.

Answer 2

There are many great treatments for emphysema. Hopefully you are treating your emphysema before you need oxygen. But if not treatment is still helpful. Some new meds that are now available include Spiriva, advair, combivent. these are all MDI or inhalers. There are also nebulizer drugs like duoneb available. See a pulmonologist about your lung disease. They should be very up to date on the lastest and best treatments out there for COPDers. COPD is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. which is what you have. If you are smoking please stop now. Your lungs will thank you. Good luck to you

Answer 3

sorry to say -- emphysema is IRREVERSIBLE (meaning canNOT be cured).
the reason why they advise you to stop smoking is the PREVENT and FURTHER problems in your health. you may say "i'll still smoke, it cannot be cured anyway" -- but you will suffer more if you don't quite smoking.

not all people with emphysema are smokers (well MOST people are). some are born with it. they have a condition called alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency -- the alpha1anti-trypsin is responsible for the lungs elasticity and recoil (to return to its original size). with emphysema, that recoil is gone so the lungs look "inflated" -- you'd see emphysema pateints walking around with big chest and common complaint would be "i can't catch my breath" because the lungs does not expand any further.

just a suggestion, if you are smoking -- quite smoking cold turkey and keep yourself hydrated so that the secretions in your lungs would not dry up and would be easier to expectorate.

so far the therapy for emphysema patients is oxygen -- but very very limited. maximum is 2 liters per minute because you can inhale all those oxygen, convert it to carbon dioxide but cannot exhale. so all those CO2 is trapped in your lungs and makes your blood acidotic -- which causes more problems.

Answer 4

The best treatment for emphysema is not smoking, and giving a reality check to those people who think they have the right to smoke because they want to. If you have advanced end stage COPD, you really can't do anything except stop smoking and pray.
Emphysema is a terrible disease.

Answer 5

there are medical and surgical options:
the medical ones include bronchodilators which will open up your airways and improve shortness of breath, and the steroids which suppress inflamation and which are helpful when one has frequent exacerbations.
As for the surgical options, some emphysema patients are cabdidates for a lung reduction surgery with good long term results although some short term morbidity.
For the particulars of the surgery and the medications you should discuss with a pulmonologist.
there are no alternative medicine treatments for emphysema.

Answer 6

Acapella (positive expiratory pressure device) used to recruit alveoli and to loosen airway secretions.

Aero-eclipse (a nebulizer that only allows the medication to be released when you inhale) this can save a lot of medication, virtually eliminates medication rainout.

Duoneb(now used via MDI or Nebulizer, it is a premixed solution of albuterol and atrovent. you don't have to mix them yourself, less confusion for elderly)

EzPap(another positive pressure device that helps recruit alveoli in the lungs for people that cannot use an incentive spirometer effectively) wonderful new device!!!

Answer 7

Well first of all you need to stop the smoking or cut down.Then, you need to practice breathing exercise and listen to what that surgeon general warning!!!

Answer 8

Ask a doctor who specializes in this disease.

Or check out some websites, here is one.

Answer 9

not sure...but try checking out alternative medicine it helped my dad lots