• Emphysema begins with the destruction of air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs where oxygen from the air is exchanged for carbon dioxide in the blood. The walls of the air sacs are thin and fragile. Damage to the air sacs is irreversible and results in permanent "holes" in the tissues of the lower lungs.  As air sacs are destroyed, the lungs are able to transfer less and less oxygen to the bloodstream, causing shortness of breath. The lungs also lose their elasticity, which is important to keep airways open.  The patient experiences great difficulty exhaling.
• Emphysema doesn't develop suddenly.  It comes on very gradually. Years of exposure to the irritation of cigarette smoke usually precede the development of emphysema. Of the estimated 3.1 million Americans ever diagnosed with emphysema, 95 percent were 45 or older.
• Of the emphysema sufferers, 54.8 percent are male and 45.2 percent are female. However, within in the past year, the prevalence rate for women has seen a 5 percent increase whereas men have seen a decreased of 10 percent. Therefore, the difference in prevalence rates between the sexes has become statistically insignificant.
• Symptoms of emphysema include cough, shortness of breath and a limited exercise tolerance. Diagnosis is made by pulmonary function tests, along with the patient's history, examination and other tests.

For more information on Emphysema, please review the Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema Morbidity and Mortality Trend Report in the Data and Statistics section of www.lungusa.org or call the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872).