Although emphysema is not hereditary, a rare genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) can pass down in families and cause the disease. Learn more here.

Emphysema is a serious, lifelong lung disease that leaves you wheezing and short of breath. It has three main types. Paraseptal emphysema is the rarest. You can have it and not know it.

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are both respiratory conditions that fall under the classification of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. The symptoms may overlap. Learn more here.

References 1. Sciurba, FC, Ernst, A, Herth, FJ, et al. A randomized study of endobronchial valves for advanced emphysema. N Engl J Med 2010;363:1233-1244 ...

Emphysema is a serious condition that slowly destroys lung tissue and makes it hard for you to breathe. Find out how doctors define stage 1 of this disease and what you can do.

Some 29% of smokers undergoing lung cancer screening and 4% of healthy adults undergoing cardiac scanning are found to have emphysema, which destroys lung parenchyma and degrades intra-alveolar ...