Final answer:
Emphysema is a serious lung condition that involves the destruction of alveoli leading to decreased lung elasticity and gas exchange. This disease, primarily caused by smoking, results in shortness of breath, chronic cough, and is not curable, though symptoms can be managed, especially if smoking is ceased.
Step-by-step explanation:
Emphysema is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) characterized by a progressive and irreversible destruction of alveoli, which are the tiny air sacs in the lungs responsible for gas exchange. In healthy lungs, the alveoli have elastic walls that allow the lungs to expand and contract during breathing. However, in emphysema, the structural destruction leads to a loss of elasticity in the lung tissue, enlargement of the alveolar sacs, and damage to the capillaries feeding the alveoli. This impairs the lungs' ability to exhale air and reduces the surface area available for gas exchange, making it difficult to breathe.
The damage is often due to long-term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter, most commonly from cigarette smoke. As the condition progresses, patients experience shortness of breath, especially during physical activity, and a chronic cough. The breakdown of connective tissues in the lungs diminishes respiratory function, meaning that emphysema sufferers often feel like they can't get enough air, leading to insufficient oxygenation of the blood. Although there is no cure for emphysema, quitting smoking and other interventions can help manage symptoms and slow disease progression.