Pulmonary and Critical Care

Emphysema

Emphysema is a condition that involves damage to the walls of the air sacs (alveoli) of the lung. Alveoli are small, thin-walled, very fragile air sacs located in clusters at the end of the bronchial tubes deep inside the lungs. There are about 300 million alveoli in normal lungs.

• Shortness of breath, especially during light exercise or climbing steps
• Ongoing feeling of not being able to get enough air
• Long-term cough or “smoker’s cough”
• Wheezing
• Long-term mucus production
• Ongoing fatigue