ATROPHIC EMPHYSEMA Meaning and
Definition
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Atrophic emphysema is a medical condition characterized by the abnormal enlargement and destruction of the air sacs in the lungs, known as alveoli. This chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) subtype is generally considered a relatively rare form of emphysema. The term "atrophic" refers to the shrinking or wasting away of the lung tissue, while "emphysema" signifies the progressive damage and loss of elasticity in the alveoli.
In atrophic emphysema, the walls of the alveoli become thin and weakened, causing them to collapse and lose their ability to efficiently exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. As a consequence, individuals with this condition may experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, chronic cough, and fatigue, as their lung function becomes impaired.
This type of emphysema is typically associated with longstanding exposure to noxious irritants, such as cigarette smoke or industrial pollution. Diagnosis often involves a combination of clinical evaluation, lung function tests, and imaging studies like chest X-rays or CT scans to assess the extent of lung damage.
As atrophic emphysema is a chronic condition with no known cure, treatments are primarily focused on managing symptoms and preventing further deterioration of lung function. This may involve lifestyle modifications such as smoking cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation programs, bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, and supplemental oxygen therapy in severe cases. Close medical supervision and regular monitoring of lung function are essential to delay the progression of the disease and maintain a good quality of life for individuals with atrophic emphysema.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ATROPHIC EMPHYSEMA
- ztrophic emphysema
- strophic emphysema
- wtrophic emphysema
- qtrophic emphysema
- arrophic emphysema
- afrophic emphysema
- agrophic emphysema
- ayrophic emphysema
- a6rophic emphysema
- a5rophic emphysema
- ateophic emphysema
- atdophic emphysema
- atfophic emphysema
- attophic emphysema
- at5ophic emphysema
- at4ophic emphysema
- atriphic emphysema
- atrkphic emphysema
- atrlphic emphysema
- atrpphic emphysema
Etymology of ATROPHIC EMPHYSEMA
The term "atrophic emphysema" is a medical condition characterized by the permanent enlargement of air spaces in the lungs due to the destruction of their walls.
The etymology of the word "atrophic" can be traced back to the Greek roots "a", meaning "without", and "trophe", meaning "nourishment" or "growth". Therefore, "atrophic" suggests a lack of nourishment or a decrease in size or function.
On the other hand, "emphysema" has its roots in the Greek word "emphysema", which means "inflation" or "swelling". This root denotes an abnormal accumulation of air or gas in body tissues beyond normal limits.
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