Suggest medication for Emphysema
Patient: I have debilitating health problems that just seem to be getting worse and worse. I have 6 diffrent specialist that I see and they just come up with one medical problem after another. I am 38 and been and off and on smoker for 10 years. I was recently told I have emphysema. I have had medical and health problems my whole life and I asked to finally be tested for Alpha-1 because my sister tested positive but we have different fathers. I am a M1M1 and my antitrypsin is 161. But when looking at all symptoms I have all but 1. My question is with my health history should I be looking for something else to be the cause of can this still be a possibility Doctor: Thanks for your question on HCM.Being a smoker emphysema can occur at any age. And smoking make you more vulnerable to get emphysema at this antitrypsin level.So if you have chest x ray and PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) siggestive of emphysema than you are suffering from it only. No need to search for the cause.Better to start treatment. 1. Smoking cessation should be the atmost priority.2. Inhaled bronchodilators.3. Pulmonary rehabilitation with chest physiotherapy and deep breathing exercise. 4. Pulmonary vaccination with pneumococcal and h.influenzae vaccines.