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.

In 2021, an estimated 14 million adults in the United States reported a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, or emphysema. If you’re not sure what the ...