PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EMPHYSEMA .. PRIMARY .. AFFECTS 1-2% OF ALL EMPHYSEMA. IS AN INHERITED CONDITION THAT RESULT, AS THERE IS A LACK OF AN ENZYME CALLED ANTITRYPSIN. ANTITRYPSIN IS A PLASMA PROTEIN. IN INDIVIDUALS THAT LACK THIS PROTEOLIC ENZYME, ARE MORE PRONE TO HAVE EMPHYSEMA, AS THE ANTITRYPSIN ENCOURAGES THE BREAKDOWN OF PROTEIN. PEOPLE WHO ARE ANTITRYPSIN DEFICIENT HAVE AN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF DEVELOPING EMPHYSEMA DUE TO THE PROTEOLYSIS IN LUNG TISSUE, NOT BEING INHIBITED. PEOPLE WHO LACK THIS ENZYME AND SMOKE INCREASE THEIR CHANCES EVEN FURTHER OF DEVELOPING EMPHYSEMA THEN THOSE WITH THE DEFICIENCY ALONE. SECONDARY .. THIS TOO IS ALSO CAUSED BY AN INABILITY OF THE BODY TO INHIBIT PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES IN THE LUNGS. IT RESULTS FROM THE LUNGS INHALING TOXINS, SUCH AS CIGARETTE SMOKE AND AIR POLLUTION. NOT ALL SMOKERS WILL DEVELOP EMPHYSEMA HOWEVER, ABOUT 20% ARE SUSCEPTIBLE AND DEVELOP SIGNIFICANT LUNG DAMAGE IF THEY CONTINUE.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:29:29 +0000
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