Emphysema is a long-term (chronic), irreversible lung disease that occurs when the tiny air sacs in the lungs are damaged, usually as a result of long-term smoking. It causes difficulty breathing and shortness of breath that gets worse over time.
Emphysema is a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
A rare type of emphysema is caused by the lack of a substance in the lungs called alpha1-antitrypsin. This type of emphysema is usually inherited.
Robin Parks, MS
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Ken Y. Yoneda, MD - Pulmonology
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