What is emphysema? Symptoms, causes and treatment of lung disease suffered by Coronation Street actress Liz Dawn
The soap legend who played Vera Duckworth died following a long battle with emphysema at the age of 77
CORONATION Street legend Liz Dawn died following a long battle with emphysema at the age of 77 after campaigning for greater awareness of lung diseases.
But what is emphysema, what are the symptoms and how is it treated? Here's everything you need to know.
What is emphysema and why do people develop the disease?
Emphysema, a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, causes breathing difficulties.
The condition, which mainly affects middle-aged or older adults who smoke, causes damage to the air sacs in the lungs.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of emphysema, and other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, cause sufferers difficulty breathing.
The main symptoms are breathlessness, a chesty cough, frequent chest infections and persistent wheezing.
Without treatment symptoms will get steadily worse.
The NHS advises people to seek medical attention if they have persistent symptoms - particularly if they are over 35 and used to or still smoke.
How is it emphysema treated?
The damage to the lungs caused by emphysema is permanent but treatment can slow its progression.
Treatments include stopping smoking and the use of inhalers and medication.
Doctors may also consider pulmonary rehabilitation - a specialised exercise programme - or even a lung transplant.
What happened to Coronation Street legend Liz Dawn?
Coronation Street actress Liz Dawn died at the age of 77 following a long battle with emphysema.
The star, best known for playing Vera Duckworth, had left the street due to ill-health in 2008 - after 34 years with the soap.
Liz had worked tirelessly to raise awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after being diagnosed with the condition.
As part of her role at the British Lung Foundation she piloted the Breathe Easy Week campaign to raise awareness of the reality of lung diseases.
