What is emphysema?

Answer 1

A pathological diagnosis defined as the permanent destructive enlargement of the air spaces distal to the terminal bronchioles, resulting in loss of alveolar surface area and reduction of oxygen exchange. Scarring of the lungs, usually caused by pollutants. At one point it was determined that over 95% of all people with emphysema were smokers. Just about everyone else had been working in an environment that had severely toxic pollutants. Smoking causes a temporary paralysis of the cilia in the lungs. Cilia are the fine, hair-like structures that are constantly in motion to move toxic particles out of the lungs. When the cilia are paralyzed, toxic particles can stay in one place and cause irritation. The irritation eventually turns to scar tissue and/or cancer. Smoking one cigarette can cause paralysis of the cilia for about an hour. It's as though cigarettes were specifically designed to cause emphysema. They have the toxic stubstances and they have a method of keeping the substances in contact with the lungs.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common lung diseases. It makes it difficult to breathe. There are two main forms of COPD: Chronic bronchitis, which involves a long-term cough with mucus; Emphysema, which involves destruction of the lungs over time.