Emphysema Treatment   Standard treatment for Emphysema involves numerous components, many of which aim at treating the various sequelae that can come from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases.  Smoking cessation is first and foremost important action in the treatment of Emphysema.  Setting a quit date, the application of transdermal nicotine patches, and behavioral therapy are all useful strategies for attaining the goal of quitting the use of tobacco.  Patients with Emphysema are considered to be in a high risk group for purposes of influenza infection and should receive a flu vaccination every year.  A pneumococcal vaccine should also be considered.   Pharmacological treatments for Emphysema are aimed at alleviating symptoms and may include; bronchodialators and oxygen to improve shortness of breath, Theophylline to reduce spasms, and antibiotics can help prevent and treat lung infections that can be common in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases. [5]     Supplements helpful for Emphysema   N-Acetyl Cysteine N- acetyl Cysteine serves as the precursor for glutathione, which is one of the main antioxidants in the body and is vital for health.  N-Acetyl Cysteine is more stable and readily absorbed by the body than the amino acid it is derived from-cysteine.   In the treatment of Emphysema, N-Acetyl Cysteine can serve a number of purposes. It can act as a direct scavenger of reactive oxygen species that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Emphysema.  N-Acetyl Cysteine also serves as the precursor for Glutathione (see below), and also has the effect of thinning mucus secretions that are often prevalent in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases.  N-acetyl Cysteine has been demonstrated to be effective in protecting lung tissue from damage induced by environmental insults such as cigarette smoke.  The beneficial effects of N-acetyl Cysteine appear to be enhanced by the concurrent use of a selenium-containing heterocycle compound. [6, 7, 8]            Glutathione Glutathione is an antioxidant compound that is composed of 3 amino acids: cysteine, glutamine, and glycine.  Glutathione is one of the main antioxidants that occurs in the body and is used to prevent damage to both cell membranes and genetic material. Glutathione also functions to help keep other antioxidant systems in a reduced state so that they can perform their protective antioxidant functions.  It is believed that high glutathione levels may protect lung tissues from the damaging effects of cigarette smoke on alveolar macrophages.   The availability of glutathione that is taken orally is uncertain and it is considered more available in a nebulized form.  For this reason, it is considered more effective to take the precursor to glutathione, N-acetyl cysteine, orally.  In the pathogenesis of Emphysema there seems to be and imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in the lung tissues.  This imbalance is exacerbated by environmental insults such as cigarette smoke and air pollution.  Nebulized Glutathione has been successfully used to avert an acute respiratory crisis caused by Emphysema.  It has also been shown to improve the course of the chronic disease process. [10, 11, 12]   Other Antioxidants In imbalance of oxidants and antioxidants in the lung tissues is one of the major factors that can contribute to the pathogenesis of Emphysema.  It has been demonstrated that exposure to both primary and secondary cigarette smoke increases the oxidative stress that is placed on lung tissues.  Even though the lungs are considered an internal organ, they are constantly exposed to the outside environment in the form of the gases that are introduced to the lung with every breath.   The lungs are equipped with numerous defenses to prevent damage to their sensitive tissues.  Among the lungs' defenses are antioxidant systems that serve to protect the various cells in the lungs from damage.  When the antioxidant defenses are overwhelmed, the "door" is then opened for development of such diseases as Emphysema. It is important to ensure that the balance of antioxidants to oxidants remains high in the lungs to help improve lung condition and prevent further damage. [14, 15, 16, 18]    Usage: Emphysema treatment should include a multivitamin that contains adequate doses of antioxidant vitamins including; Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Copper, Zinc, beta-carotene (only after smoking cessation has been achieved), Selenium, and Manganese.     Learn More About Emphysema Introduction to Emphysema Emphysema Treatment Products helpful for Emphysema Go Back Learn More

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