Emphysema Care in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Emphysema is a chronic lung disease and a key type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In Grand Rapids and across West Michigan, emphysema is most often linked to cigarette smoking and long-term exposure to industrial pollutants or dusts—a concern in certain local manufacturing and construction jobs.

A smaller number of people develop emphysema due to a genetic condition called alpha‑1 antitrypsin deficiency. This can affect adults of any age, even nonsmokers, and is important to consider if you have a strong family history of lung or liver disease.

While emphysema cannot be cured and damaged airways do not regenerate, it is both preventable and treatable. With the right care from Grand Rapids lung specialists and primary care providers, many people can reduce symptoms, stay active, and avoid hospital stays.

Emphysema Symptoms

In Grand Rapids, people often first notice emphysema symptoms when walking up hills or stairs (for example, around downtown or in neighborhood parks) becomes more difficult than usual.

Common symptoms include:

  • Shortness of breath (breathlessness) with exertion, and eventually at rest in more advanced disease
  • Chronic cough that may produce phlegm (mucus)
  • Frequent chest infections, especially during Michigan’s cold, damp winters
  • Fatigue and low energy
  • Cyanosis – a bluish tinge to the lips or fingertips due to low oxygen levels
  • Barrel-shaped chest – expansion of the ribcage to accommodate overinflated lungs
  • Wheezing or a whistling sound when breathing
  • Reduced ability to exercise or keep up with normal daily activities

If you notice these symptoms, especially if you smoke or have a history of long-term exposure to dust or chemicals, contact a local provider such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, or your primary care clinic for evaluation.

How the Lungs Work

To understand emphysema, it helps to know the basic structure of the lungs:

  • Air enters through the nose or mouth and travels down the windpipe (trachea).
  • The trachea divides into two bronchi, one going to each lung.
  • The bronchi divide into many smaller bronchioles.
  • At the end of the bronchioles are millions of tiny air sacs called alveoli.

The alveoli are surrounded by a fine network of tiny blood vessels called capillaries. Here, two important things happen:

  • Oxygen from the air you breathe passes into your bloodstream.
  • Carbon dioxide, a waste gas, passes from your blood into your breath to be exhaled.

Healthy lungs are elastic, allowing air to move in and out easily.

What Happens in Emphysema?

With repeated exposure to irritants, such as:

  • Cigarette smoke (including secondhand smoke)
  • Vaping aerosols
  • Industrial chemicals or dusts (relevant to some West Michigan manufacturing, construction, and agricultural jobs)
  • Air pollution and wood smoke (common in winter heating)

the airways and air sacs become inflamed and damaged.

Over time:

  • The alveoli are destroyed or merge into larger, less efficient air spaces.
  • The airways lose their elasticity, become thickened and swollen, and may partially collapse, especially when you breathe out.
  • The passageway for air becomes narrower, making it harder to move air in and out.
  • The number of functioning capillaries decreases, so less oxygen can enter the blood.

If a person also has chronic bronchitis (ongoing inflammation of the bronchial tubes with excess mucus), the mucus can further narrow and clog the airways, making breathing even more difficult.

These changes lead to:

  • Reduced capacity of the lungs to extract oxygen from the air
  • The need to breathe harder and faster to get enough oxygen
  • Gradual shortness of breath, especially during activity

Complications of Emphysema

Without proper management, emphysema can lead to serious complications. In Grand Rapids, these complications are often seen more frequently during winter and early spring, when respiratory infections are common.

Potential complications include:

Pneumonia and Other Lung Infections

  • Pneumonia is an infection of the air sacs (alveoli) and small airways (bronchioles).
  • People with emphysema are more prone to pneumonia and bronchitis, which can cause sudden worsening of symptoms and may require hospitalization at local facilities like Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital or Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital.

Collapsed Lung (Pneumothorax)

  • Some people with emphysema develop large air pockets in the lungs called bullae.
  • If a bulla bursts, air can leak into the space around the lung, causing the lung to collapse (pneumothorax).
  • This is a medical emergency and requires immediate care in an emergency department.

Heart Problems

  • Damaged alveoli and fewer capillaries mean lower oxygen levels in the bloodstream.
  • The heart has to pump harder to push blood through the diseased lungs.
  • Over time, this extra strain can lead to right-sided heart failure (cor pulmonale) and worsening shortness of breath, leg swelling, and fatigue.

Diagnosis of Emphysema in Grand Rapids

If your doctor suspects emphysema or COPD, they will usually start with:

Spirometry (Lung Function Test)

  • You breathe into a special machine that measures how much air you can blow out and how quickly.
  • Spirometry is the main test used to diagnose COPD, including emphysema.
  • This test is widely available at pulmonary function labs in Grand Rapids hospitals and some larger clinics.

Other Tests That May Help

Your healthcare provider may also recommend:

  • Other lung function tests
  • Chest X-ray – to look at lung size and shape
  • CT scan of the chest – to see detailed images of lung damage and bullae
  • Blood tests, including screening for alpha‑1 antitrypsin deficiency in appropriate patients
  • Oxygen level checks using a finger monitor (pulse oximeter) or arterial blood gas test

If you live in the Grand Rapids area, your primary care provider may refer you to a pulmonologist (lung specialist) at Corewell Health, Metro Health, or Trinity Health for more advanced testing and management.

Treatment for Emphysema in Grand Rapids, MI

There is no cure for emphysema, but treatment can:

  • Reduce symptoms
  • Improve quality of life
  • Help you stay out of the hospital
  • Slow the progression of lung damage

A personalized treatment plan may include the following:

1. Stop Smoking Completely

  • Quitting smoking is the single most effective treatment for emphysema and COPD.
  • It can slow or halt further lung damage, even if you already have symptoms.
  • In Grand Rapids, help is available through:
    • Your primary care clinic or pulmonologist
    • Michigan Tobacco Quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669)
    • Local smoking cessation programs offered by Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, and Metro Health – U of M Health
    • Community resources coordinated with the Kent County Health Department

2. Avoid Other Air Pollutants

  • Limit exposure to industrial dust, chemical fumes, and strong odors.
  • Use proper protective equipment if you work in manufacturing, construction, or agriculture.
  • During days with poor air quality (especially in hot, humid summers or during wildfire smoke events), stay indoors with windows closed and consider using an air purifier.

3. Medications

Your doctor may prescribe:

  • Bronchodilators – medicines that widen the airways to help you breathe more easily (inhalers or nebulizers).
  • Inhaled corticosteroids or other anti-inflammatory medications – to reduce airway inflammation.
  • Combination inhalers – that include both a bronchodilator and an inhaled steroid.
  • Mucolytics – to help loosen thick mucus.
  • Antibiotics – for bacterial chest infections or pneumonia.

It is important to use inhalers exactly as prescribed and have your technique checked regularly by a nurse, respiratory therapist, or pharmacist.

4. Respiratory (Pulmonary) Rehabilitation Programs

Pulmonary rehab is a key part of emphysema care and is available through major health systems in Grand Rapids.

These programs typically:

  • Provide education about emphysema and COPD
  • Offer a supervised exercise program proven to improve:
    • Shortness of breath
    • Exercise tolerance
    • Overall fitness
  • Teach specific breathing exercises (such as pursed-lip breathing) to improve lung function
  • Include stress management techniques to help cope with anxiety and depression related to breathing problems
  • Offer emotional support through shared experiences with others living with emphysema
  • Give practical advice on:
    • Conserving energy at home and work
    • Using inhalers and oxygen correctly
    • Adapting daily activities to your lung capacity

Ask your Grand Rapids healthcare provider for a referral to a pulmonary rehabilitation program through Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or Metro Health.

5. Oxygen Therapy (Advanced Cases)

If tests show that your blood oxygen level is very low, your doctor may prescribe home oxygen therapy.

  • Oxygen is usually delivered through soft nasal prongs (cannulae).
  • To be effective, most people need to use oxygen for at least 16 hours per day, and some need it around the clock.
  • Oxygen equipment is typically arranged through a home medical equipment company in the Grand Rapids area, coordinated by your healthcare team.

6. Vaccinations

Because respiratory infections can be especially dangerous for people with emphysema—especially during cold, snowy West Michigan winters—your doctor will likely recommend:

  • Yearly influenza (flu) vaccination
  • Pneumococcal vaccination to protect against common causes of pneumonia
  • Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, as advised

These vaccines are widely available through:

  • Local clinics and health systems
  • Kent County Health Department
  • Many pharmacies throughout Grand Rapids

7. Lifestyle and Self-Care

  • Gentle, regular exercise (such as walking indoors at malls, using a stationary bike, or supervised gym programs) to improve overall fitness.
  • Healthy eating to maintain strength and a stable weight.
  • Stress management – relaxation techniques, counseling, or support groups.
  • Planning for weather changes:
    • In cold, dry winters, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf to warm the air.
    • In hot, humid summers, avoid outdoor exertion during the hottest parts of the day and stay in air-conditioned spaces when possible.

Living With Emphysema in Grand Rapids

With the right support, many people in Grand Rapids live active, meaningful lives with emphysema. Key steps include:

  • Working with a local primary care provider and pulmonologist
  • Attending pulmonary rehabilitation
  • Taking medications and using inhalers correctly
  • Avoiding tobacco and environmental irritants
  • Staying current with vaccinations
  • Seeking prompt care for worsening symptoms or infections

Where to Get Help in Grand Rapids, MI

If you think you may have emphysema or COPD, or if you have been diagnosed and need better control of your symptoms, consider these resources:

  • Your primary care provider
  • Pulmonology (lung) clinics at:
    • Corewell Health (Spectrum Health) – Grand Rapids
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
  • Kent County Health Department – information on smoking cessation, vaccinations, and local public health programs
  • Grand Rapids Public Health and community clinics – for screenings and education
  • Michigan Tobacco Quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) – free smoking cessation support

Key Points About Emphysema

  • Emphysema is a chronic lung disease and a major form of COPD, common among smokers and people with long-term exposure to pollutants.
  • A small percentage of cases are caused by a genetic disorder called alpha‑1 antitrypsin deficiency.
  • Damaged airways do not regenerate, and there is no cure, but emphysema is preventable and treatable.
  • Symptoms include shortness of breath, chronic cough with phlegm, fatigue, frequent chest infections, and sometimes cyanosis (bluish lips or skin).
  • Spirometry is the main test used to diagnose emphysema, along with imaging and other lung function tests.
  • Appropriate management—including smoking cessation, medications, pulmonary rehabilitation, vaccinations, and sometimes oxygen therapy—can reduce symptoms, improve quality of life, and help you avoid hospital stays.
  • People with emphysema in Grand Rapids can benefit from local pulmonary rehab programs, lung specialists, and community health resources tailored to West Michigan’s climate and lifestyle.