Breathing occurs when the diaphragm muscle contracts to allow the lungs to expand, which pulls air into the mouth and nose. The air travels through the trachea that branches into the two bronchi leading to the lungs. Once in the lungs, the air...
Emphysema causes a permanent change in the structure of the lung, impeding the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Smoking most often causes emphysema, but in rare cases, heredity causes an impaired immune response. Symptoms during end stage...
According to the American Medical Association, in an average lifespan of 75 years, a human being will breathe in and out more than 8 million cubic feet of air. Because breathing is essentially an unconscious process, it's only when it becomes...
Smoking is the number one cause of premature, preventable death in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. While everybody knows the health problems that smoking causes--heart disease, cancer, stroke, lung disease--smoking...
Malnutrition has complex effects on emphysema, a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that affects the lungs. Emphysema destroys not only the air sacs that hold oxygen in your lungs, but also the elastic fibers that hold the airways open...
Smoking tobacco is widely accepted to be one of the most harmful things a person can do to her health, and is responsible for 20 percent of all deaths in the United States. It's the leading cause of preventable disease in the U.S.. Regardless of...
Emphysema is a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, which occurs when there is damage to the alveoili air sacs in the lungs, MedlinePlus says. The air sacs are usually deformed and do not inflate like those in healthy lungs....
Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound that occurs during breathing. It occurs when something is blocking the lungs' airways or making them too narrow. Wheezing is most obvious during exhalation, or when you are breathing out; however,...
Drug-induced pulmonary disease, or lung irritation, can cause inflammation and other lung problems. Lung symptoms that occur in response to medications can mimic some of the symptoms of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD....
Emphysema falls under the general category of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Emphysema is a chronic condition that occurs when the air sacs in your lungs become damaged. This restricts the amount of oxygen that can get to your...
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, refers to a group of lung diseases that causes limited airflow in and out of the lungs. COPD reduces the amount of oxygen that goes into the blood, and less oxygen makes it difficult for the heart to...
The lungs are the primary organs involved in respiration, the process of bringing air into the body and creating gas exchange. Oxygen is moved into the blood stream and carbon dioxide and other waste is moved out of the blood and exhaled. This gas...
Stabbing pain when breathing, also described as "knife-like," is distressing. Pain caused by a condition in the lung is often sharp, and commonly worsens during a deep breath. A variety of disorders, some which are very serious, can cause stabbing...
Half of all smokers who cannot quit smoking will end up dying of a smoking-related illness, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The diseases smoking can cause are major concerns for smokers and their loved ones. The effects of the...
Shortness of breath, known as dyspnea, is the feeling of not being able to get enough air. Those experiencing shortness of breath describe feelings of intense chest tightening or suffocation, according to the Mayo Clinic. Many lung problems...
Smoking can cause a great deal of damage and destruction to the body at any age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the unpleasant health effects of long-term smoking account for an estimated 1 of every 5 deaths each year...
The human body requires oxygen at virtually every level to carry out its function. The purpose of the lungs is to bring air into the body and allow for gas exchange. In the lungs oxygen is able to enter the bloodstream for delivery to the rest of...
The lungs consist of gas-transporting airways and functional air spaces, which absorb oxygen and rid the body of excess carbon dioxide. Pulmonary emphysema is a chronic lung condition characterized by overinflation of the lung air spaces and loss...
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also called COPD, causes breathing problems that get progressively worse over time, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD. Air pollution, chemical...
COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, refers to a group of diseases that obstruct airflow and cause difficulties in breathing. The obstruction can cause severe and irreversible damage to the lungs. According to the National Heart Lung...
Emphysema is a chronic disease that in most cases could be prevented, as approximately 80 percent of the cases are caused by smoking cigarettes, according to Cedars Sinai. Emphysema is a respiratory disease that is often associated with chronic...
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a progressive condition that has no cure, but treatment can help you manage the symptoms, slow its progression and improve your quality of life. Treatment for COPD has evolved since the 1960s,...
Many people consider emphysema an elderly person's disease. But many young smokers, including those in their teens, exhibit mild symptoms of the disease. Cigarette smoking, one of the primary causes of emphysema, puts many teenagers at risk....
Asthma, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis and emphysema can cause swelling and inflammation of lung tissue, which causes a buildup of mucus in the airway, obstructing the flow of air. Your doctor will design a treatment plan based on your disease...
Decades of clinical data have led researchers to make definitive links between cigarette smoking and many chronic diseases. According to a 2004 report by the U.S. Surgeon General, tobacco use is now associated with conditions as diverse as...
Lung damage begins early for smokers, as smoking quickly interferes with proper lung function. The condition of the lungs worsens as a person continues to smoke. Smokers usually realize the lung damage they are causing when they start to have...
Emphysema is a disease of the respiratory tract associated with enlargement of the alveoli, or the small air sacs within the lungs. Emphysema eventually causes alveoli to rupture, which narrows the airways and makes it difficult to breathe....
Disease related to heavy smoking can include those that affect your respiratory as well as your cardiovascular system. Respiratory diseases related to heavy smoking include, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes a variety...
Shortness of breath or breathing difficulties can have several causes, including asthma, emphysema, heart disease or anxiety. One cause of several health problems that may present with breathing difficulties is being overweight. In some cases,...
Emphysema is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease most often caused by exposure to tobacco smoke or toxic material. Learn more about emphysema, including symptoms and treatments, in this video.
