Final answer:
The disease emphysema is characterized by the destruction of elastic fibers in lung tissues, resulting in shortness of breath and chronic cough due to irreversible damage to the lungs primarily caused by smoking.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the disease emphysema, many symptoms are due to destruction of elastic fibers in the lung, leading to a decrease in lung elasticity, destruction of walls between alveoli, and an increase in lung compliance. Because of this damage, the lungs lose their ability to recoil properly, causing air to become trapped and reducing the surface area available for gas exchange. Smoking is the leading cause of emphysema, and the condition is characterized by symptoms such as shortness of breath, chronic cough, and wheezing, especially during expiration. Unlike inflammation-triggered diseases like asthma, emphysema's damage to the alveoli and elastic fibers is irreversible and results in chronic poor airflow.