Emphysema question?

Question:

My husband was diagnosed with Emphysema at 31 years old. He is now 32 and his doctor is going to put him on oxygen. Does anyone know of anyone this young with Emphysema? What can I expect. I have read that people with Emphysema can live long lives but I never expected him to be on oxygen already. Please help if you know anything about Emphysema especially in younger adults.

Answers:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/the...

GREAT SUPPORT HERE, REALLY HON.

Your husband probably suffers from alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is an inherited disorder that can cause lung disease in adults and liver disease in adults and children. Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a protein that protects the lungs. The liver usually makes the protein, and releases it into the bloodstream. Because of a gene problem, some people have little or none of it. Not having enough AAT puts you at risk of emphysema or liver problems. Three in four adults with a severe deficiency will get emphysema, some when they are younger than 40. If you smoke, you increase your risk. Children with AAT deficiency can develop liver problems that last their whole lives.

Here is a link to a site that may be able to help. Good luck.

http://www.alphaone.org/

You may also want to try this site:

http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvl...

Emphysema question?

Health Resources