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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
enphysema from smoking or cehemical exposure
Answered by
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enphysema from smoking or cehemical exposure
by danimal, Jun 05, 2005 12:00AM
I been diagnosed with COPD and enphysema and was told that it was practialy unheard of for a 25 year old
i been smoking on and off for 8 years and never went over a pack a day how ever i worked at a cehemical factory and was exposed 8 to 12 hours every day i worked and i was taken to the hospital by ambulance due to toxin exposure twice within a four week time frame and the company refused to provide protective epument so i asking what is the most likley cause in my case
thank you
daniel
ps i worked at that plant over two years
pss sorry about my spelling
i been smoking on and off for 8 years and never went over a pack a day how ever i worked at a cehemical factory and was exposed 8 to 12 hours every day i worked and i was taken to the hospital by ambulance due to toxin exposure twice within a four week time frame and the company refused to provide protective epument so i asking what is the most likley cause in my case
thank you
daniel
ps i worked at that plant over two years
pss sorry about my spelling
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Jun 15, 2005 12:00AM
, Jun 15, 2005 12:00AM
There is a good possibility that you may have an inherited form of emphysema, called alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency. This condition makes your lungs very sensitive to the effects of chemicals and cigarette smoke. It is the result of not having enough of a major protein, called alpha1-antitrypsin, in the blood. To tell if you have this condition a blood test is done that measures the amount of alpha1-antitrypsin. A lung specialist would be able to help with treatment. You should never smoke again. Also you should never again work in a chemical factory or anyplace like it. Please read our Alpha1-Antitrypsin Deficiency of Inherited Emphysema MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/alpha1.html for more information.
