Final answer:
Emphysema leads to increased lung compliance due to the destruction of alveolar walls and loss of elastic fibers, and increased airway resistance because of obstructed airflow and trapped air in the lungs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The change that accompanies emphysema is increased lung compliance. In emphysema, typically a result of long-term smoking, there is destruction of the alveolar walls which decreases the surface area for gas exchange and results in a loss of elastic fibers. This damage leads to increased compliance because the lungs lose their elastic recoil and as a consequence, more air gets trapped in the lungs at the end of exhalation. Since emphysema is an obstructive pulmonary disease, it also leads to increased airway resistance due to the obstruction and trapping of air in the lungs, making exhalation difficult.