10 Unnerving Indications You're Dancing with Emphysema

3. Frequent Lung Infections

Lung infections develop when a foreign pathogen enters the lung tissues and is allowed to colonize and thrive in those tissues. The pathogenic invasion of the lung tissues induces a response by the immune system, which produces many of the symptoms associated with lung infections. An emphysema patient has lungs that are already compromised both structurally and functionally. Emphysema causes the lungs to decrease in surface area and develop large openings where old air can become trapped. When a foreign body or pathogen enters an affected individual's lungs, it has a greater chance of causing an infection because it may become trapped as well. Individuals who have emphysema are unable to expel foreign particles and pathogens the same way as a healthy individual because of their lung damage. This mechanism provides the opportunity for lung infections to develop frequently.

4. Chronic Fatigue

Chronic fatigue is characterized by an individual's inability to carry out normal daily activities without feeling overly exhausted and tired. It occurs when there is not enough energy to provide to all of the cells around the body. For the cells in the body to produce usable energy, they require a constant supply of nutrients such as glucose and oxygen. While cells can make energy in the absence of oxygen, this secondary mechanism does not work efficiently and produces potentially toxic byproducts. An individual affected by emphysema does not have as much oxygen in their blood circulation as a healthy individual. This poor oxygen concentration in the blood is because the lungs are too damaged to facilitate an adequate amount of carbon dioxide-oxygen exchange. The poor oxygen concentration of the blood causes an overall shortage of cellular energy in the body. In such conditions, the body allocates energy to vital organs like the lungs and heart. This mechanism takes energy away from the cells of the muscles in the rest of the body, causing fatigue.