EMPHYSEMA

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does emphysema mean? 

• EMPHYSEMA (noun)
  The noun EMPHYSEMA has 1 sense:

1. an abnormal condition of the lungs marked by decreased respiratory function; associated with smoking or chronic bronchitis or old age

  Familiarity information: EMPHYSEMA used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EMPHYSEMA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An abnormal condition of the lungs marked by decreased respiratory function; associated with smoking or chronic bronchitis or old age

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

emphysema; pulmonary emphysema

Hypernyms ("emphysema" is a kind of...):

respiratory disease; respiratory disorder; respiratory illness (a disease affecting the respiratory system)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "emphysema"):

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (a nonreversible lung disease that is a combination of emphysema and chronic bronchitis; usually patients have been heavy cigarette smokers)

Derivation:

emphysematous (relating to or resembling or being emphysema)

 Context examples 

Also called: AATD, Alpha-1, Inherited emphysema

(Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

The researchers looked at risk of death from respiratory disease, such as emphysema, as well as the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

(No safe level of smoking: Even low-intensity smokers are at increased risk of earlier death, National Institutes of Health)

Lung conditions such as asthma, emphysema or pneumonia cause breathing difficulties.

(Breathing Problems, NIH)

Bronchodilators are inhaled and are used to treat breathing disorders, such as asthma or emphysema.

(Bronchodilator, NCI Dictionary)

Long-term exposure to air pollution was linked to increases in emphysema between 2000 and 2018, according to a new study.

(Study finds link between long-term exposure to air pollution and emphysema, National Institutes of Health)

Inhalers are used to treat certain medical problems, such as bronchitis, angina, emphysema, and asthma.

(Inhaler, NCI Dictionary)

The research team then treated esophageal tissue samples with alpha-1 anti-trypsin, or A1AT, a drug approved to treat an inherited form of emphysema.

(Eosinophilic esophagitis may be due to missing protein, National Institutes of Health)

Emphysema makes it hard to catch your breath.

(Emphysema, NIH)

It can cause coughing, throat irritation, worsening of asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.

(Ozone, Environmental Protection Agency)

In emphysema, the alveoli become abnormally inflated, damaging their walls and making it harder to breathe.

(Emphysema, NCI Dictionary)