Emphysema is an incurable, progressive lung condition that is a type of COPD. Quitting smoking can help prevent further lung deterioration in any stage of COPD and may also help slow progression.

Recent research suggests that certain biologic medications called monoclonal antibodies may help treat emphysema more effectively than some current therapies. These medications include benralizumab ...

With emphysema, you can have symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness. Your symptoms can worsen after exposure to lung irritants, such as tobacco from smoking.

“Emphysema is usually a description of images — CT scan or X-ray — and is only one part of the disease of COPD,” says Uddalak Majumdar, MD, pulmonologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. COPD is ...