emphysema

emphysema 1 A lung condition characterized by an abnormal accumulation of air in the lung’s many tiny air sacs (alveoli). As air continues to collect in these sacs, they become enlarged and may break or be damaged and form scar tissue. Emphysema is strongly associated with cigarette smoking, a practice that causes lung irritation. It can also be associated with or worsened by repeated infection of the lungs, such as that seen in chronic bronchitis. The best response to the early warning signs of emphysema is prevention: smoking cessation and immediate treatment for incipient lung infections. 2 Air accumulated abnormally into body tissues, such as between layers of skin (subcutaneous emphysema).