Which chronic lung disease is marked by difficulty breathing and shortness of breath?

Emphysema is characterized by a long-term progressive difficulty in breathing due to the irreversible damage to the alveoli in the lungs. This condition leads to the enlargement and destruction of these tiny air sacs, which decreases the surface area available for gas exchange. As a result, individuals often experience significant shortness of breath, especially during physical activity, as their lungs cannot effectively take in oxygen or expel carbon dioxide.

Individuals with emphysema often find that their breathing becomes labored, and they may adopt a "barrel-chested" appearance because of the changes in lung structure. While asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia can also cause breathing difficulties, they do so in different ways or are generally more episodic and reversible in nature. For instance, asthma is characterized by inflammation and constriction of the airways, bronchitis involves a chronic cough with mucus production, and pneumonia is an infection that can cause acute respiratory issues. Emphysema, on the other hand, is a specific type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that leads to a progressive decline in respiratory function over time, making it the most fitting choice in this context.