Like balloons, our lungs hold air and are very elastic, expanding and contracting easily. But what would happen if you let the air out of a balloon yet it didn't deflate? As weird as it sounds, that's basically what happens when you have emphysema.

Emphysema is caused by damage to some of the 300 million alveoli - the tiny, thin-walled air sacs clustered at the ends of the airways within the lungs - so that they become hardened and unable to "squeeze out" air from the body. Nearly two million Americans suffer emphysema symptoms; making it the 15th most common chronic condition in the U.S. Emphysema rates are highest for men age 65 and older.

Emphysema Causes; Emphysema Symptoms

Long-term smoking causes the alveoli become enlarged and the small blood vessels that supply these air sacs die off. This in turn results in the most common emphysema symptoms: inflammation, hardening of the lung tissue, and difficulty in breathing. Like a balloon that has been blown up and deflated many times, air sacs in emphysema sufferers loose their elasticity (ability to stretch and shrink with breathing). This results in "stale" air becoming trapped in the air sacs. As air gets trapped in these tiny sacs, some rupture to form one large air space instead of many small ones. The trapped air cannot be fully released when a patient exhales, and breathing then becomes more and more labored. The first emphsema symptom usually noticed is a sensation of not being able to get enough air. In the initial stages of the disease, shortness of breath (dyspnea) may be noticeable only during activity. In later stages, a person may struggle for air even when sitting quietly or lying down. Unfortunately, because the disease develops gradually over many years, you may not experience emphysema symptoms such as shortness of breath until irreversible damage has already occurred.

Prevention and Treatment of Emphysema

To date, no cure has been found that can reverse the damage already caused by emphysema symptoms. Therefore, treatment of emphysema is limited to easing the discomfort and preventing further damage. People in the advanced stages of the disease who need to use supplemental oxygen may find that nutritional supplements particularly useful in the treatment of emphysema.

Prevention, therefore, is the best "treatment" of emphysema symptoms available. The best way to prevent emphysema is to stay away from cigarette smoke. If you do smoke, quit now. If you are exposed to second-hand smoke, avoid that too. Sources of indoor air pollution can be identified and removed.

Sound nutrition, including vitamin supplementation, may help to prevent emphysema symptoms. Antioxidant supplements can help prevent emphysema from worsening. N-Acetyl L-Cysteine and L-Glutamine are included in the treatment of emphysema because they help the body synthesize glutathione, an important antioxidant. Grape Seed and Green Tea are included in the treatment of emphysema as they provide antioxidant support and have many general health-enhancing properties. Zinc is an essential mineral that is involved in the antioxidant protection against free radicals, and can help to boost immunity. Ginkgo Biloba may help in the treatment of emphysema by maintaining peripheral circulation to the lung. Astragalus is traditionally used as a tonic and is well known as an immune stimulant. It is important to take a complete Multivitamin Mix for basic health support and to assist in the treatment of emphysema

Diet;Lifestyle Choices for Emphysema Treatment

Finally, a healthy diet and good nutrition is not only important to maintaining good health, it is essential. Eat foods that have a high protein content to help maintain muscle strength and tone in all your muscles, including those that help you breathe. Keep salt intake to a minimum, especially with edema, an advanced emphysema symptom. Drink eight to ten glasses of purified water per day to keep your mucus thin and easier to cough up. Increase your intake of dietary sources of carotenoid pigments (carrots, sweet potatoes, yellow squash, and leafy green vegetables). Engage in a regular exercise program, which can help to build resistance to infections and improve your overall health.