Emphysema is a lung disease that can develop after long-term tobacco use or exposure to secondhand smoke. It’s part of a group of lung diseases known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Surgical emphysema is another term for subcutaneous emphysema. It occurs when air or gas enters the subcutaneous tissue, which is the deepest layer of the skin. People can develop surgical emphysema ...

Starting emphysema treatment in the earliest (mild) stage, when you may have a nagging cough and increased mucus production, may help you maintain a better quality of life for a longer period of time.

Long-term cigarette smoking is a leading cause of pulmonary emphysema, in which loss of elasticity in lung tissue leads to alveolar enlargement and coalescence, and impaired gas exchange.