The medical terminology for Emphysema is COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is associated with habitual cigarette smoking. Patients with COPD frequently experience trouble breathing, shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing.

Smoking causes the destruction of the terminal artery of the structure called alveoli
and results in the obstruction of the airway exchange between O2 and CO2. The consequences of this impairment of the airway exchange results in low O2 concentration and high CO2 in the body. This low O2 or hypoxia makes the patient short of breath, easily fatigued and have decreased exercise tolerance.

There is evidence however, that early cessation of smoking can reverse this process of obstruction and enable patients to breath normally. When the disease stage is far advanced, it becomes irreversible and the patient will have to wear an O2 tank constantly.

If you smoke and are concerned about whether you have COPD or not, see your doctor who can order a simple test such as spirometry to evaluate lung function capacity. Depending on the results, one may need inhalers or medications. The best thing is to stop smoking so the cigarette smoke does not damage further into one's lung architecture. Breathing is vital to one's health, so protect it by not smoking cigarettes.

Frank Y. An, M.D.
Diplomate, American Board of Family Medicine
Member, South Bay Independent Physicians Medical Group, Inc.
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