What is Emphysema? Emphysema is a severe, progressive lung condition that progressively destroys the tiny air sacs (alveoli) at the end of the breathing tubes in your lungs. It is one of the primary diseases that comprise COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), alongside chronic bronchitis. In a healthy person, the air sacs are stretchy and springy. In people with emphysema, the delicate inner walls of these air sacs weaken and irreversibly rupture—creating a few large, floppy air spaces instead of millions of small, efficient ones. This drastically reduces the total surface area available for oxygen to cross into your bloodstream, trapping stale air in your lungs and causing severe shortness of breath. Symptoms The lungs have a vast reserve capacity, meaning you can have emphysema for many years without noticing any clinical signs. When symptoms do appear, they usually progress slowly: Shortness of Breath (D...