Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AAT Deficiency): Prevention
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, or , is a condition that raises your risk for certain types of lung disease, especially if you smoke.
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About Prevention of AAT Deficiency
You can’t prevent alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency because the condition is inherited (passed from parents to children through ).
If you inherit two faulty AAT , you’ll have . Even so, you may never develop one of the diseases related to the condition.
You can take steps to prevent or delay lung diseases related to . One important step is to quit smoking. If you don’t smoke, don’t start.
Talk with your doctor about programs and products that can help you quit smoking. If you have trouble quitting smoking on your own, consider joining a support group. Many hospitals, workplaces, and community groups offer classes to help people quit smoking.
For more information about how to quit smoking, go to the Health Topics Smoking and Your article and the National Heart, Lung, and Institute’s Although these resources…