chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Emphysema affects the air sacs in your lungs. These typically stretchy/elastic sacs fill up with air, like a small balloon when you breathe in and deflate when you breathe out or the air goes out.
However, if you have emphysema, many of your sacs may become damaged, which will instead cause them to lose their shape and become floppy. Emphysema can also destroy the walls of the air sacs, which will create fewer and larger air sacs instead of many tiny ones making it harder for your lungs to move oxygen in and carbon dioxide out of your body.
While you may have no symptoms or only mild symptoms at first, as the disease progresses, your symptoms may include:
- Frequent coughing or wheezing
- A cough that produces a lot mucus
- Shortness of breath, especially with physical activity
- A whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe
- Tightness in your chest
If you have severe symptoms, such as trouble catching your breath or talking, call your health care provider, especially if your symptoms are getting worse or if you have signs of an infection, such as a fever.
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Getting diagnosed
If you believe you may have emphysema, see a doctor. He or she will be able to make a diagnosis based off of:
- A medical history, which includes asking about your symptoms
- A family history
- Other tests, such as lung function tests, a chest x-ray or CT scan, and blood tests
Although there is no cure for emphysema, treatments and lifestyle changes can help with symptoms, slow the progress of the disease, and improve your ability to stay active. Additionally, there are treatments available that can prevent or treat complications of the disease such as medicines, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation and surgery.