There are two cycles of human blood: large cycle and small cycle. Small circulation is also called pulmonary circulation, that is, every drop of blood in the whole body is pumped into the lungs through the contraction of the right ventricle for gas exchange (inhaling fresh air and exhaling carbon dioxide), and fresh blood containing oxygen is pumped into the whole body through the contraction of the left ventricle for large circulation.
When people come into this world from a negative pressure environment, after the alveoli are expanded and opened by the pressure of the atmosphere, the alveoli will continue to expand and contract in one breath for life. Although it will age slowly with the increase of age, there is no obstacle to hinder the airflow channel, and its alveolar elasticity is healthy. If people can't exhaust all the inhaled gas, they will accumulate more alveoli, just like a child blowing up a balloon and losing its original elasticity. This principle used in lung disease is called "emphysema".
The emphysema caused by bronchial obstruction caused by foreign bodies or tumors seen clinically will not be described here.
I have treated countless patients with emphysema. Here is a picture of typical emphysema for you to see:
Due to the over-inflation and abnormal expansion of alveoli, the alveolar wall can be irreversibly damaged, which can be localized or appear in the whole lung.
The limit of 1 is the valve function caused by partial blockage. Excessive inhalation and less exhalation will lead to excessive expansion of distal alveoli.
Looking at the CT plain scan of the left lower lobe, the lung window shows that the transparency of the left lower lobe lung is increased and the lung texture is reduced.
② Diffuse, due to chronic inflammation, the terminal bronchiole is narrowed, so that the secreted sputum cannot be discharged smoothly. The medical term is valvular expiratory obstruction, because long-term obstruction makes alveoli over-inflated, alveolar walls are destroyed and irreversible chronic emphysema occurs.
Let's divide it into mild, moderate and severe emphysema. According to the patient, he usually coughs a lot of phlegm, sits with his shoulders up and takes a deep breath with his mouth open, but he still inhales less and exhales less. If you give him a simple X-ray examination, he will see a bucket chest with clear lung field, few normal veins in the lungs, flat ribs, descending diaphragm, narrow and thin heart shadow, straight waist and even dripping water.
Because the whole chest space of the patient is enlarged, pulmonary hypertension will occur for a long time to form cor pulmonale.
A patient with cor pulmonale went upstairs to check his electrocardiogram. I specially told him to sit down and rest for ten minutes before the examination, but a few minutes later, news came that a patient in the ECG room had died.
If you have irreversible emphysema, you should pay attention to maintenance, especially the treatment of bronchial inflammation. Excessive phlegm is the root cause of poor breathing. Oxygen inhalation, fresh air, no cold, keep reasonable eating habits, quit smoking and drinking, enhance immunity, and don't aggravate the condition as well!