Do I Have Emphysema?

Are you between 50 and 70 years old?

Do you have shortness of breath, especially during light exercise or climbing stairs?

Do you have an ongoing feeling of not being able to get enough air?

Do you smoke tobacco for a long time (about a pack of cigarettes per day for more than 20 years)?

Do you have a long-term cough or “smoker’s cough”?

Do you have a cough that produces a lot of mucus?

Do you have wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe)?

Do you have tightness in your chest?

Do you have a barrel-like distended chest?

Do you have an ongoing fatigue?

Do you have a diagnosis of chronic bronchitis?

Are you exposed to the secondhand smoke (smoke that you inadvertently inhale from someone else’s cigarette)?

Are you exposed to indoor pollution (fumes from heating fuel) or a chemical fumes and dust at work and outdoor pollution (e.g. car exhaust)?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have emphysema. Emphysema is a lung disease characterized by shortness of breath. There are a number of small air sacs in the lungs called the alveoli in which the exchange of gases takes place. When you inhale, the alveoli fill with oxygen-rich air, and when you exhale, they expel carbon dioxide. In people with emphysema, the inner walls of the alveoli are damaged. Damaged alveoli lose their elasticity and cannot completely expel the old air, leaving insufficient space for the fresh air to enter. These changes in the lungs lead to difficulty breathing.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have emphysema. Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is characterized by breathing difficulties that worsen over time. Emphysema affects the air sacs in your lungs called the alveoli. The inner walls of alveoli weaken or rupture over time, making it harder for your lungs to bring in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide from your body. In the US, the main cause of emphysema is cigarette smoke. Prolonged exposure to irritants can damage your airways and lungs. A diagnosis is based on your medical history, lung function tests, blood tests and imaging tests.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have emphysema. Emphysema is a long-term lung disease, which is characterized by the gradual destruction of alveoli and lung tissue. Emphysema usually develops after many years of smoking. In people with emphysema, changes that have already occurred in the lungs cannot be reversed. There is no cure for emphysema, so treatments aim to slow the progression of the disease. Treatments involve quit smoking, medications, oxygen therapy and surgery. Quitting smoking is a vital step to protect your lungs from further damage. Work with your doctor to find a smoking cessation method that works best for you.