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BookmarkEmphysema is a chronic lung disease.
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It is often caused by exposure to toxic chemicals or long-term exposure to tobacco smoke.
Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue; destruction of structures supporting the alveoli; and destruction of capillaries feeding the alveoli.
The result is that the small airways collapse during expiration, leading to an obstructive form of lung disease (airflow is impeded and air is generally "trapped" in the lungs in obstructive lung diseases).
Symptoms are: shortness of breath on exertion - typically when climbing stairs or inclines (and later at rest), hyperventilation and an expanded chest.
As emphysema progresses, clubbing of the fingers may be observed, a feature of longstanding hypoxia..
For more information about the topic Emphysema, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:
Pulmonary alveolus — An alveolus (plural: alveoli), is an anatomical structure that has the form of a hollow cavity. In the lung, the pulmonary alveoli are spherical ... > read more
Gas exchange — Gas exchange or respiration takes place at a respiratory surface; a boundary between the external environment and the interior of the body. For ... > read more
