What is emphysema? What is the difference between emphysema and COPD?
Emphysema is one type of COPD. It refers to the destruction of the lung alveoli by smoking. Alveoli are the tiny sacs in the lungs where gases are exchanged between the lungs and the bloodstream. This exchange helps the lungs deliver oxygen to all the cells of the body and remove carbon dioxide, which is by product of cells after they have the oxygen to create energy. When emphysema develops, the lung loses the ability to effectively exchange gas with the bloodstream, this leads first to decrease in oxygen and eventually, in advanced disease, a build-up of carbon dioxide in the body. This causes shortness of breath.
