Emphysema

Emphysema is a chronic lung condition that affects the air sacs called alveoli, which are responsible for oxygen exchange. In this disease, the walls of the alveoli are damaged and lose their elasticity, causing them to become enlarged and less efficient at moving oxygen into the blood. This damage mainly affects the respiratory system and leads to difficulty breathing, especially during physical activity. People with emphysema often experience shortness of breath, a persistent cough, and a feeling of tightness in the chest. The condition is most commonly caused by long-term exposure to cigarette smoke or other harmful airborne substances. Over time, emphysema can severely reduce lung function and impact overall health and quality of life.

Emphysema is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease characterized by irreversible destruction of the alveolar walls and enlargement of the distal airspaces beyond the terminal bronchioles. This leads to decreased surface area for gas exchange and loss of elastic recoil, resulting in airflow limitation. The primary mechanism involves an imbalance between proteases, such as elastase, and antiproteases like alpha-1 antitrypsin, often triggered by chronic exposure to cigarette smoke or environmental pollutants. Clinically, emphysema presents with progressive dyspnea, decreased breath sounds, and hyperinflation on imaging. It is a major cause of morbidity due to chronic respiratory failure and predisposes to complications such as pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale.