What is Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term disease of the lungs that is progressive and causes shortness of breath due to the over-inflation of the air sacs in the lungs called alveoli. People with emphysema have lung tissue that is impaired or destroyed which slows down the exchange of gasses (oxygen and carbon dioxide). Emphysema is classified as a chronic obstructive pulmonary lung disease (COPD) because airflow is slowed or stopped. Cigarette smoking is the most dangerous behaviour that causes emphysema.
Symptoms of Emphysema
Shortness of breath is the most common symptom of emphysema. A cough is also sometimes a s symptom along with wheezing. Your tolerance for exercise may decrease over time. Emphysema usually develops slowly which is why the symptoms sometimes go unnoticed and a person may never have any acute episodes of shortness of breath.
Available Treatments for Emphysema
There are various forms to treat emphysema. The biggest one is to stop smoking because quitting smoking may halt the progression of the disease and should improve the function of the lungs to some extent. Lung function gets worse with age and smoking may worsen the lungs a person gets old. As well, there are bronchodilating medications that cause air passages to open wider and result in better air exchange. There are also steroid medications that decrease inflammation in the body and antibiotics which are prescribed for people who have shortness of breath. One other treatment is when a hospital will simply provide oxygen to the patient.
Eligibility Criteria for Disability Tax Credit for Emphysema
To be eligible for this tax credit, a person must be impaired for over the period of one full year. They can also be eligible if they have difficulty in one of the following daily life activities, such as walking. For a walking impairment, the patient must be unable to walk 100m (a city block) or it must take them an inordinate amount of time (3 times longer than normal) to do so due to shortness of breath.
How To Apply for Disability Tax Credit for Emphysema?
To apply for this tax credit Form 2201 entitled “Disability Tax Credit Certificate” it must be completed by a registered medical practitioner. This tax credit is only available to those who have taxes payable. This form must be completed by a registered medical practitioner. Qualified registered medical practitioners include a medical doctor, physiotherapist, optometrist, psychologist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, and audiologist.
How DCC Can Help Claim Tax Credit
Disability Tax Credit Consultants at DCC can help to claim this tax credit and collect up to $40,000 in disability tax credits.