Emphysema is a disease affecting the respiratory system. The damage of alveoli leads to difficulty in breathing.
- SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EMPHYSEMA
- CAUSES OF EMPHYSEMA
- PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF EMPHYSEMA
- DIAGNOSIS OF EMPHYSEMA
- TREATMENTS FOR EMPHYSEMA
- PROGNOSIS OF EMPHYSEMA
- COMPLICATIONS OF EMPHYSEMA
- EMPHYSEMA AND AYURVEDA
- NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF EMPHYSEMA
- PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF EMPHYSEMA
- SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF EMPHYSEMA
- LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EMPHYSEMA
- AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF EMPHYSEMA
- CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR EMPHYSEMA
- AYURVEDIC LOCAL TREATMENT FOR EMPHYSEMA
- AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR EMPHYSEMA
- AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR EMPHYSEMA
- COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR EMPHYSEMA
- HOME REMEDIES FOR EMPHYSEMA
- DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR EMPHYSEMA
- YOGA FOR EMPHYSEMA
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EMPHYSEMA
- Breathing difficulty
- Wheezing
- cough
- Production of sputum
- Chest discomfort
CAUSES OF EMPHYSEMA
- Smoking
- Dust
- Air pollution
- Chemical fumes
- Irritants in the airway
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF EMPHYSEMA
Due to the above-mentioned causes the inflammation and damage of alveoli, cilia of bronchi occur. This results in swollen airways, mucus production, and difficulty clearing the airways. All of these changes can lead to shortness of breath.
DIAGNOSIS OF EMPHYSEMA
- EXAMINATIONS
Auscultation – when listening to the chest with a stethoscope, the doctor may hear abnormal breathing sounds.
- INVESTIGATIONS
- X – rays
- Lung function tests
- Sputum culture
- CT Scan – chest
- Laboratory tests – to find out the underlying pathology
- Spirometry
TREATMENTS FOR EMPHYSEMA
- Antibiotics for bacterial infections
- Expectorants and Mucus-Thinning Medicines
- Bronchodilators
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
PROGNOSIS OF EMPHYSEMA
- Prognosis is based on the cause of the disease, duration and condition of the patient
- There is no cure for emphysema. But the condition can be managed with appropriate treatment.
COMPLICATIONS OF EMPHYSEMA
- Recurrent pneumonia
- Chronic lung damage
EMPHYSEMA AND AYURVEDA
- In Ayurveda, emphysema is considered a disease that occurs in the pranavaha srothas.
- Symptoms of emphysema can be correlated to swasa along with Kasa.
- Ayurveda has several formulations to treat this condition and is in practice with proven efficacy.
NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF EMPHYSEMA
- Exposure to dust and smoke
- Residing in a cold place – seeta sthana
- Use of cold water- seetambu sevana
- Irregular meals
- Injury to vital organs – marma ghata
- Injury to chest – uro abhighata
- Suppression of natural urges
PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF EMPHYSEMA
- Pain in the chest
- Heaviness in the chest
- Breathing difficulty
- Cough
SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF EMPHYSEMA
- Due to the causative factors, pranavata combining with kapha leaves its path and begins to move in the upward direction, giving rise to breathing difficulty, cough etc.
TYPES OF SWASA
- Ksudra swasa
- Tamaka swasa
- China swasa
- Maha swasa
- Urdwa swasa
TYPES OF KASA
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
- Kshataja
- Kshayaja
LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EMPHYSEMA
- Wheezing sound – ghurghuraka
- Breathing difficulty
- The chest is full of sputum – vaksha sampoorna
- Profuse expectorations
- Viscid sputum
AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF EMPHYSEMA
- Swasa and kasa roga is generally sadhya. But kshataja and kshayaja kasa is difficult to cure.
CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR EMPHYSEMA
Ayurvedic local treatment for emphysema
- Snehana using lavana taila and Svedam – local fermentation
AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR EMPHYSEMA
- Thalisadi Choorna
- Pippali Choorna
- Haridra Khanda
- Guduchi Satwa
- Kantakari Ghrutha
- Datri Loha
- Kanakasava +Pushkaramoolasava
- Tribhuvana Keerthi Rasa
- Dashamoola Katuthrayam Kashaya
- Shwasa Kutara Rasa
AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR EMPHYSEMA
- Dasamoola nirooha basthi is best in vata kapha roga chikitsa
- Vamana
- virechana
COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR EMPHYSEMA
Internal administration
- Thalisadi Choorna
- Haridra Khanda
- Kantakari Ghrutha
- Datri Loha
- Kanakasava
- Tribhuvana Keerthi Rasa
- Dashamoola Katuthrayam Kashaya
- Shwasa Kutara Rasa
- Vyaghri hareetaki avaleha
External application
- Karpooradi taila application on chest region during breathing difficulty
HOME REMEDIES FOR EMPHYSEMA
- Heat application on the chest area by a towel dipped with hot water
- Steam inhalation
DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR EMPHYSEMA
- Avoid food items which produce kapha, vata dosha imbalance like cold and dry food, hard to digest. Because kapha, vata imbalance aggravates the symptoms.
- Consume easily digestible food items
- Avoid heavy diet at bedtime.
- Avoid drinking water immediately after food.
YOGA FOR EMPHYSEMA
- Nadi Shuddi Pranayam – cleans the respiratory passage
The patient needs to be seated in a meditative posture with the head and spine erect, with the body relaxed. The patient has to close his one nostril (e.g. left nostril if using the right hand and vice versa) with the thumb and exhale completely through the other nostril. Again, he will have to breathe in deeply through the other nostril while the opposite nostril is still closed with the thumb.