A patient has been a three-pack-per-day smoker for the last 20 years. He comes into the office complaining of shortness of breath. The doctor believes he might have a chronic lung disease where alveoli lose their elasticity and burst. The medical name for this disease is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described – shortness of breath and a history of heavy smoking – suggest a chronic lung disease, and emphysema is one such condition. Emphysema is characterized by the destruction of the alveoli in the lungs, leading to difficulties in breathing. Asthma is a lung disease that causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to breathing difficulties. Sinusitis and tonsillitis are not lung diseases, but involve inflammation of the sinuses and tonsils respectively.

A Patient Has Been a Three-Pack-Per-Day Smoker for the Last