First thing you need to know is that emphysema does not often show up alone.  It is part of a group of diseases called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease which have been grouped together by doctors and experts because they are so intertwined.  The two main components of COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis.  If you are searching for further information and find COPD instead of emphysema, don’t get confused. 

The majority of emphysema patients are over 40 but don’t let that fool you.  Emphysema takes years to fully develop, which means the poor decisions people made when they are younger are affecting their bodies today. 

It’s hard to think that far ahead now, but with emphysema (more, perhaps, than any other disease) it really is that single moment when you decide to take a puff of your first cigarette.  It has been estimated that 80-90% of the cases of emphysema have been linked to smoking.  The chemicals that you are bringing into your lungs while smoking cigarettes (or pipes or cigars) are what cause the irreparable damage to your tissue that marks emphysema and COPD. 

In your lungs are tiny air sacs in which the transference of oxygen and carbon monoxide takes place.  It is the walls of these air sacs which slowly break down when you have emphysema.  They loose their elasticity- which means your lungs can inflate and deflate like they used to.  They don’t provide support or structure anymore, which means that air passages can become blocked or crushed.  They also allow air to become trapped inside them, hindering that vital exchange of oxygen and carbon monoxide. 

When your lungs can’t work properly, you start to feel out of breath all the time.  You may have coughing fits or episodes where you are struggling to get air into your chest.  Every cell in your body depends on your lungs to get the oxygen they need to keep on working.  When your lungs are having trouble, your whole body will feel the effects.

If you know someone who is dealing with emphysema, you know that it can be very painful and even frightening at times.  Fortunately, emphysema is a disease which almost no one should have to suffer through.  It’s just one more very, very good reason why, when someone turns to you and says “want a smoke?” your answer should always be “No thank you!”