Lung Disease

Emphysema Cigarette Smoking Is the Leading Cause Emphysema is a chronic lung disease and one of two forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. (The other form is chronic bronchitis.) About three million Americans suffer from emphysema. The most common causes of emphysema are years of cigarette smoking and exposure to environmental toxins. In …

Emphysema When Breathing Becomes Difficult Emphysema is a chronic lung disease which causes permanent changes in the lung, making it difficult to breathe normally. Smoking and air pollutants are two main causes of emphysema. Damage to the lung occurs in the area where air is exchanged, past the terminal bronchiole, including the respiratory bronchioles, alveoli …