What is emphysema?

What is emphysema?

• A. An acute infection of the lungs
• B. Chronic lung disease where the tiny alveoli in the lungs are gradually destroyed, losing their elasticity and forming large, inefficient air pockets, making it hard to exhale old air and get fresh oxygen
• C. A heart condition due to high blood pressure
• D. An inflammation of the nasal passages

Answer: (B)

Emphysema is a chronic obstructive lung disease in which the walls of the tiny air sacs (alveoli) are progressively destroyed, leading to loss of elastic recoil and the formation of large, inefficient air spaces. This destruction reduces the surface area available for gas exchange and allows air to become trapped in the lungs, making it hard to exhale stale air and to draw in fresh oxygen. The description here directly captures that process—alveolar destruction with loss of elasticity, air trapping, and difficulty exhaling. Other options point to conditions that are not about alveolar destruction or chronic air trapping: an acute lung infection like pneumonia, a heart condition due to high blood pressure, or inflammation of the nasal passages.

Emphysema is a chronic obstructive lung disease in which the walls of the tiny air sacs (alveoli) are progressively destroyed, leading to loss of elastic recoil and the formation of large, inefficient air spaces. This destruction reduces the surface area available for gas exchange and allows air to become trapped in the lungs, making it hard to exhale stale air and to draw in fresh oxygen. The description here directly captures that process—alveolar destruction with loss of elasticity, air trapping, and difficulty exhaling. Other options point to conditions that are not about alveolar destruction or chronic air trapping: an acute lung infection like pneumonia, a heart condition due to high blood pressure, or inflammation of the nasal passages.