Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes, the air passages connecting the windpipe to the lungs. When the bronchial tubes, or bronchi, or inflamed mucus and phlegm build up, makes breathing difficult. Chronic bronchitis is defined by the presence of a mucus-producing cough most days of the month, three months of a year for two successive years without other underlying disease to explain the cough.
Emphysema is a chronic lung condition in which alveoli, or air sacs, may be:
Destroyed
Narrowed
Collapsed
Stretched
Over-inflated
Over inflation of the air-sacs is a result of a breakdown of the walls of the alveoli, and causes a decrease in respiratory function and breathlessness. Damage to the air sacs is irreversible and results in permanent “holes” in the tissues of the lower lungs.
Early symptoms of pulmonary emphysema may include:
Shortness of breath
Cough
Fatigue
Anxiety
Sleep problems
Heart problems
Weight loss
Depression
The symptoms of pulmonary emphysema may resemble other lung conditions or medical problems. Consult your physician for a diagnosis.
