SENILE EMPHYSEMA Meaning and
Definition
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Senile emphysema, also known as senile lung emphysema or senile pulmonary emphysema, is a chronic and progressive disease that predominantly affects the elderly population. It is characterized by abnormal and permanent enlargement of the air spaces distal to the terminal bronchioles within the lungs, accompanied by destruction of the alveolar walls.
This condition is primarily associated with the aging process and long-term exposure to risk factors such as smoking, environmental pollutants, and genetic predisposition. Senile emphysema is considered a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), alongside chronic bronchitis.
The hallmarks of senile emphysema include reduced elasticity and loss of recoil in the lung tissue, which compromises the ability of the airways to expel stale air. This leads to trapping of air within the lungs, resulting in difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, and symptoms like chronic cough and wheezing. Individuals may also experience chest tightness, fatigue, weight loss, and a bluish tinge to the lips and fingertips due to decreased oxygen levels in the blood.
Diagnosis of senile emphysema typically involves a comprehensive evaluation of medical history, physical examination, lung function tests, and imaging techniques such as chest X-rays or CT scans. Treatment strategies aim to manage symptoms, slow disease progression, and improve quality of life. They often include lifestyle modifications (quitting smoking, avoiding lung irritants), pulmonary rehabilitation, bronchodilator medications to aid breathing, and in severe cases, supplemental oxygen therapy or surgical interventions like lung volume reduction surgery or lung transplantation.
Overall, senile emphysema is a chronic lung disorder characterized by the pathological changes in lung structure and function, which primarily affects the elderly population
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Substantive e. consequent upon the physiological atrophy of old age.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for SENILE EMPHYSEMA
- aenile emphysema
- zenile emphysema
- xenile emphysema
- denile emphysema
- eenile emphysema
- wenile emphysema
- swnile emphysema
- ssnile emphysema
- sdnile emphysema
- srnile emphysema
- s4nile emphysema
- s3nile emphysema
- sebile emphysema
- semile emphysema
- sejile emphysema
- sehile emphysema
- senule emphysema
- senjle emphysema
- senkle emphysema
- senole emphysema
Etymology of SENILE EMPHYSEMA
The term "senile emphysema" is a medical condition that refers to a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that is associated with aging.
The word "senile" originates from the Latin word "senilis", which means "old age" or "pertaining to old age". The term "emphysema" comes from the Greek word "emphyo", which means "to inflate" or "to puff up".
Together, "senile emphysema" describes the condition in which the air sacs in the lungs become damaged and overinflated, leading to difficulty breathing. The word "senile" reflects the characteristic of the condition occurring predominantly in elderly individuals, while "emphysema" refers to the pathological changes occurring in the lungs.
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