noun
emphysema
em-fi-SEE-muh/ˌemfɪˈsiːmə/
A chronic lung disease in which damaged air sacs make breathing difficult.
The lungs show emphysema, with destroyed alveolar walls leaving enlarged air spaces.
Etymology
The pieces describe the result of blowing air in: inflation or swelling. Emphysema originally named distention with air or other gases, a broader meaning than its familiar use for the chronic lung disease.
In context
the gas exchange ability is decreased and that's why people with emphysema usually on oxygen tanks because their ability to exchange gases is quite difficult
More examples
- Smoking greatly increases the risk of emphysema.
- Her doctor orders lung tests to check for emphysema.
- Treatment helps him manage emphysema but cannot reverse the lung damage.
Forms
emphysema