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This month is Alpha 1 Awareness Month so I've updated my profile picture and cover photo. Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AAT) is a genetic disorder. It affects how the liver produces a protein called antitrypsin, which is used to protect the lungs. #Alpha1Awareness 
People with AAT produce antitrypsin that is a different "shape" and it gets stuck in the liver and never reaches the lungs. This can lead to liver disease. The lack of antitrypsin in the lungs also makes you a lot more prone to developing lung related diseases like emphysema.
There's a bunch of different forms and severity of it, depending on what genes you've inherited from your parents. I unfortunately have the worst form (ZZ) which gives me a 80% chance of developing a serious lung or liver disease by the time I'm 50.
