| Emphysema is a chronic obstructive pulmonary | | | | and every year and the majority of cases are |
| disease affecting the lungs of human beings. It is | | | | caused by smoking and other toxins affecting the |
| more often then not caused by exposure to toxic | | | | lungs. Some of the most famous cases of |
| chemicals. Toxic chemicals does include long term | | | | emphysema have come from entertainers, novelists |
| exposure to tobacco smoke. Emphysema happens | | | | and musicians in the United States. |
| when the elasticity of the lung tissue is lost. This | | | | The most recent emphysema related death from the |
| occurs with the destruction of the alveoli and the | | | | entertainment industry came in 2005 when late night |
| capillaries feeding the alveoli. The alveoli is a round | | | | legend Johnny Carson died from the disease. He |
| structure found within the lung that aids in gas | | | | passed away on January 23, 2005 from respiratory |
| exchange with the blood traveling throughout the | | | | arrest caused by emphysema. Johnny Carson was |
| body. Symptoms of emphysema include shortness of | | | | the longtime host of "The Tonight Show" and one of |
| breath when exercising and when resting, an | | | | the most entertaining comedians of his time. Carson |
| expanded chest and hyperventilation. | | | | was known for his love of the cigarette. He would |
| Emphysema is an irreversible condition that causes | | | | constantly light up while filming the show. He |
| degeneration of the lungs. The only way to slow the | | | | appeared a couple of times at public shows with |
| development of emphysema in patients is for the | | | | members of the Rat Pack. |
| patient to quit smoking immediately and to avoid any | | | | Another famous case of emphysema was a member |
| tobacco smoke at all costs as well as other toxins | | | | of the aforementioned Rat Pack; Dean Martin. Martin, |
| harmful to the lungs. Emphysema cannot be cured | | | | one of the most soothing voices in the music |
| but it can be prevented. To prevent emphysema | | | | industry of his time, died on December 25, 1995. He |
| people should not smoke, should avoid others who | | | | died of acute respiratory failure from emphysema. |
| smoke as much as possible and should not inhale any | | | | Martin was also a fan of the cigarette. In all of his |
| toxins harmful to the lungs. The two types of | | | | movies, TV appearances and night club |
| emphysema are primary and secondary. There are | | | | performances, Dino would always have a cigarette in |
| ongoing studies that are currently examining the use | | | | his hand. |
| of tretinoin, found in Retin-A (an acne medicine), as a | | | | Other famous deaths from emphysema are T.S. Eliot, |
| possible reversal of emphysema. It has been tested | | | | Richard Yates, Vincent Price, William F. Buckley Jr., |
| on mice. The mice exhibited a return to elasticity of | | | | Boris Karloff and Fyodor Dostoevsky to name a few. |
| the lungs. Even though these studies are in their | | | | Among them are musicians, novelists, comedians, |
| infancy, being conducted by the European | | | | politicians and civilians. Emphysema cannot be cured |
| Respiratory Journal, there is the possibility that a cure | | | | but it can be easily prevented by not smoking and |
| could be developed over time. | | | | avoiding toxic chemicals that harm the lungs. |
| Emphysema affects thousands of Americans each | | | | |