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THE BAJA POST
NEWSROOM
SOURCE: PR NEWSMEDIA
During COPD Awareness Month, Olympus Corp. of the Americas is celebrating strides in emphysema treatment and working with groups like Right2Breathe to bring attention to the treatment options available to patients.
Emphysema is a progressive form of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) characterized by a loss of elasticity and enlargement of the air sacs of the lung. The diseased lobes of the lungs become hyperinflated, causing significant challenges with breathing. COPD affects about 16 million adults in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.1
An Important Option for Patients
Beverly Lewis suffers from emphysema as a result of smoking, a habit she acknowledges she stubbornly continued while also trying to quit for years. After worsening breathing problems, the Pensacola, Fla. resident found herself winded after walking a block and was in and out of the hospital every few months. She was eventually discharged to home hospice care with only days to live.
«I was told to get my affairs in order,» Lewis said.
Her pulmonologist suggested a bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) procedure with Olympus’ Spiration™ Valve System, a device that redirects air from diseased parts of the lung to healthier parts, allowing the healthier lung tissue to expand and function more effectively.
The procedure allowed the now 68-year-old Lewis to return to her life, including playing piano at her church.
