Emphysema Description: Emphysema is the most common form of COPD. In emphysema caused by smoking (the vast majority of cases), the very small airways that join the alveoli are damaged, and the walls lose elasticity. In a rare, inherited form of emphysema, both the walls of the bronchioles and alveoli to which they connect are diseased. Symptoms: Emphysema patients have typically lost between 50% and 70% of their lung tissue by the time symptoms begin to appear. Shortness of breath is the predominant early symptom. Coughing is usually minor and there is little sputum. Typically, a heavy smoker in his or her mid-50s who develops emphysema has shortness of breath with light exertion, and by age 60 may be breathless during rest or after minimal exertion. Number of Americans diagnosed: About two million people have emphysema. Long-term problems/treatments: If emphysema is detected before it causes symptoms, there may be some chance of reversing it. Late, severe symptoms include rapid, labored breathing and persistent air hunger even without physical exercise. Patients tend to have pinkish skin and barrel-shaped chests due to over-inflated lungs. Patients with the inherited form of early-onset emphysema are at risk for early death unless the disease is treated and its progression halted or slowed. Directory List Choose an illness from the menu below: Select here Allergies Alzheimer's disease Arthritis Asthma Bipolar disorder Chronic back problems Chronic bronchitis Chronic obstructive        pulmonary disease Cirrhosis Depression Developmental disabilities Diabetes Emphysema Endometriosis Epilepsy Glaucoma Hearing impairment Heart disease Hepatitis C High blood pressure Human Immunodeficiency        Virus (HIV) Kidney disease Lou Gehrig's disease Lupus Lyme disease Migraine Multiple sclerosis Muscular Dystrophy Orthopedic Impairments Osteoporosis Paralysis of the extremities Parkinson's disease Psoriasis Schizophrenia Sinusitis Stroke Thyroid condition         Previous      Next Resources American Lung Association -- Emphysema National Emphysema Foundation National Emphysema Treatment Trial Home | Awareness | Patient Files | The Challenge | Your Stories | Outreach | Resources About the Program | About Fred Friendly Seminars | Our Partners | Site Map | Credits © 2001 Fred Friendly Seminars, Inc.