What differentiates emphysema from chronic bronchitis?

Question

What differentiates emphysema from chronic bronchitis?​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are both types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, they differ in the specific nature of their damage to the lungs. Emphysema involves the destruction of the walls between the air sacs in the lungs, which impairs the ability of the lungs to transfer oxygen and carbon dioxide efficiently. Chronic bronchitis, on the other hand, involves inflammation and narrowing of the airways, which makes it difficult to breathe. While the primary risk factors for both conditions are similar (e.g. smoking), and there may be some genetic factors at play, the most significant difference between the two is the nature of the lung tissue damage. There is also no known link between either condition and diabetes or lung cancer.

What Differentiates Emphysema from Chronic Bronchitis?​

What Differentiates Emphysema from Chronic Bronchitis?