What is Emphysema, and why is it so dangerous?

Emphysema is a long term lung disease that is caused by smoking, and long term exposure to air pollution. Some people also get by having a rare decease where they are missing an enzyme that protects their lungs. Some symptoms include, wheezing, shortness of breath, and feeling tired all the time. What emphysema actually does, is that it destroys tissues that are needed to protect the lungs. The alveoli are destroyed, lose thier elasticity and they can't take their regular shape when a person exhales. When exhaling, the alveoli do not expand and shrink properly, making it harder for oxygen to travel, and thus making it harder to breathe. The capillaries also break and do not completely surround the alveoli anymore because of the alveoli being bigger.  Currently, there is no cure for emphysema and medications are the only way to treat the disease.

Links:
http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/a-z/emphysema-emphyseme/index_e.php

http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_condition_info_details.asp?disease_id=51&channel_id=2022&relation_id=16451

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