- Emphysema is a lung disease caused by smoking or long term exposure to air pollution.
- It happens when small particles (smoke) get trapped in the alveoli.
- This causes inflammation, which attract phagocytes to gather around the area, and produce enzymes that breaks down elastin of the tissue.
- Without elastin, alveoli loses its elasticity, so it can no longer expand, and will collapse.
- This reduce the gas exchange, Increasing ventilation rate.
---> Symptoms:
Shortness of breath and wheezing
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