What is pulmonary emphysema?

Emphysema is a chronic lung condition in which the air sacs (alveoli) may be:

• Collapsed

• Destroyed

• Narrowed

• Overinflated

• Stretched

Overinflation of the air sacs is a result of a breakdown of the alveoli walls. It causes a decrease in respiratory function and breathlessness. Damage to the air sacs can't be fixed. It causes permanent holes in the lower lung tissue.

Pulmonary emphysema is part of a group of lung diseases called COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). COPD lung diseases cause airflow blockage and breathing problems. The 2 most common conditions of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

What causes pulmonary emphysema?

Pulmonary emphysema occurs very slowly over time. It’s caused by:

• Smoking (the main cause)

• Exposure to air pollution, such as chemical fumes, dust, and other substances

• Irritating fumes and dusts at work

• A rare, inherited form of the disease called alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency-related pulmonary emphysema or early onset pulmonary emphysema

What are the symptoms of pulmonary emphysema?

Symptoms may be slightly different for each person. The following are the most common symptoms for pulmonary emphysema.

Early symptoms of pulmonary emphysema may include:

• Cough

• Rapid breathing

• Shortness of breath, which gets worse with activity

• Sputum production

• Wheezing

Other symptoms may include:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Extreme tiredness (fatigue)

• Heart problems

• Over-inflation of the lungs

• Sleep problems

• Weight loss

The symptoms of pulmonary emphysema may look like other lung conditions or health problems. See a healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How is pulmonary emphysema diagnosed?

Along with a complete health history and physical exam, your healthcare provider may request pulmonary function tests. These tests help measure the lungs’ ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. The tests are often done with special machines into which you breathe. They may include:

How is pulmonary emphysema treated?

The goal of treatment for people with pulmonary emphysema is to live more comfortably with the disease, control symptoms, and prevent the disease from getting worse, with minimal side effects. There is no way to repair or regrow the damaged lung tissue.

Treatment may include:

• A pulmonary rehab program. This may include breathing exercises to strengthen the muscles you use for breathing, and exercises for the rest of your body.

• Antibiotics for bacterial infections

• Staying away from the smoke of others and removing other air pollutants from your home and workplace

• Medicines (bronchodilators) that widen the airways of the lungs, and can be either taken by mouth (oral) or inhaled

• Getting the flu and pneumococcal vaccines

• Lung transplant

• Nutritional support since you may develop malnutrition and lose weight

• Other types of oral and inhaled medicines that are used to treat symptoms such as coughing and wheezing

• Oxygen therapy from portable containers

• Quitting smoking

• Surgery to remove the damaged area of the lung

Key points about pulmonary emphysema

• Pulmonary emphysema is a chronic lung condition. It’s often part of COPD, a group of lung diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing problems.

• It develops very slowly over time. It’s most often caused by smoking.

• It causes shortness of breath that often gets worse with activity and many other symptoms, such as wheezing, cough, anxiety, and heart problems.

• There is no way to repair or regrow the damaged lung tissue. The goal of treatment for people with pulmonary emphysema is to live more comfortably, control symptoms, and prevent the disease from getting worse.

• A key part of treatment is to quit smoking.

Next steps

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:

• Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.

• Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.

• Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your healthcare provider tells you.

• At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your healthcare provider gives you.

• Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are.

• Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.

• Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.

• Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.

• If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.

• Know how you can contact your healthcare provider if you have questions.