by S.D.B

Created on: January 21, 2010

Emphysema is a disease of the lung that first of all causes shortness of breath. It is a long-term and progressive disease. Emphysema is a disease of the lung tissue, which is caused by the destruction of the structures that feeds the alveoli. This causes the small ducts that provide ventilation to collapse during forced exhalation, as alveolar collapsibility has decreased. As a result, the ducts that provide ventilation are impeded and air becomes trapped in the lungs, in the same way as other obstructive lung diseases. Symptoms of emphysema include shortness of breath on exertion and an expanded chest. People with this disease don't get enough oxygen and cannot eliminate the carbon dioxide, so they always have a shortage of breath. The constriction of air passages isn't always causing death, treatment being available. Most of the people who have emphysema are smokers. Damage that emphysema causes is permanent, even after the person stops smoking.

Emphysema is usually associated with bronchitis and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are grouped together as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), because is difficult to define the real cases of them.

Vitamin A is a vitamin needed by the eye's retina, in the form of a specific product of the metabolism. This molecule is absolutely necessary for colour vision. Vitamin A also performs in a very different role, as an unchangeable oxidized form retinoic acid, that is a very important factor for epithelial and other cells. Vitamin A can be found in foods like two principal forms: retinol and carotene. Retinol can be absorbed from animal food sources and is a fat-soluble substance, with a yellow colour.

A study published by the European Respiratory Journal shows that tretinoin, an anti-acne drug, which is derived from vitamin A, can reverse the effects of emphysema in mice by returning elasticity to the alveoli. While consumption of vitamin A is not known to be an effective treatment or prevention for the disease, the research of the study could in the future lead to a cure. A re-examination study that was done in 2006, found uncertain results using vitamin A for treating emphysema in humans, and stated that further research is needed to reach conclusions on this treatment. Anyway, a form of vitamin A could one day provide the basis for a cure for emphysema.

Also, it is good to know that high doses of vitamin A can produce the syndrome of “pseudotumor cerebri”, which is associated with increased intra-cerebral pressure that includes headache, blurring of vision and confusion.

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