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Emphysema or COPD, chronic obstruction pulmonary disease, is the destruction of the alveoli in the lungs where the gas transfer takes place. The bronchioles distribute the air throughout the lung to the individual alveoli. Once damaged, the bronchioles tend to collapse, trapping stale air in the isolated sacs and no longer transmitting fresh air. As the alveoli are destroyed, more and more air is required to provide a sufficient amount of oxygen. This need for …

…lung volume reduction surgery which removes the most severely diseased portions allowing the remaining lung to work better, and in severe cases a lung transplant may be an option. Prevention of emphysema is ultimately to not smoke. And maintaining good health habits and regular exercise is also a good idea. Emphysema kills 85,000 people a year in the United States. It is the fourth leading cause of death. Men tend to have higher rates of emphysema.