Whats the difference between chronic bronchitis and emphysema?

Question

I am doing an essay on the Lungs and bronchitis and I came across a website that says " Chronic Obstructive Pulmanory Disease" Refers to 2 lung diseases Chronic Bronchitis and emphysema which is obstruction to the airflow. I know about bronchitis, but I was wondering if there is a difference between the two. thanks

thanks for the info everyone, im having a look at the pdf now. it looks really good by the way cheers

Answer 1

Perhaps Bronchitis can be cured? I should think so. Anything with 'itis' at the end means an inflammation of, i think. Emphysema is, eventually, fatal.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Cigarette smoking is the main cause of chronic bronchitis. The more a person smokes, the more likely it becomes that the person will get bronchitis and that the bronchitis will be severe.
Emphysema is a lung disease that involves damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. The air sacs are unable to completely deflate, and are therefore unable to fill with fresh air to ensure adequate oxygen supply to the body.
Please see the webpages for more details on Chronic bronchitis and Emphysema.

Answer 4

I once suffered from Chronic Bronchitis. I would suffer sometimes 3 to 4 times per year! Usually when there was a major change in the pressure outside (I live in the north, and the temperature spikes and dips do wonders to chronic sufferers of bronchitis!). Each time I would get horrible hacking coughs, hoarking up green phlegm..it was so frustrating!

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Answer 5

These 2 diseases act in combination to create COPD. Chronic Bronchitis is an over production of mucus by the "Goblet cells" of the lung (trying to protect themselves from toxins, and flush the toxins out). As it thicken in the lung, it becomes a Pneumonitis, and eventually Pneumonia.

Emphysema is actually a change in structure of the small airway at the point of Carbon Dioxide/Oxygen exchange (the Alveoli). In healthy lungs there is a huge number of small "balloon type" pouches with small vessels running over them, to in able the blood to "pick up" oxygen, and "drop off" Carbon Dioxide--called Alveoli. These "balloon/pouches" have a large surface area (as big as a tennis court in square footage).
In lungs plagued with Emphysema, those pouches have become "bulbous"--or simply put- "many have turned into one"--decreasing the surface area and impeding proper Oxygen/Carbon Dioxide exchange.
This along with the over production & thickening of mucus in the lungs causes re-curring Pneumonias and shortness of breath much of the time.

Also- The Definition of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is 2 or more lung diseases in combination with one another---this doesn't just constitute Chronic Bronchitis & Emphysema. It can include many other diseases--however Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema are the most commom.

I hope this answers your question and I didn't confuse you. Good Luck on your essay.

Answer 6

Yeah, there is a big difference. Bronchitis is the inflammation of the Bronchus,Bronchial tubes and/or Bronchioles. Emphysema is the loss of elasticity/elastic recoil of the lungs. Emphysema patients can get the breath in but they do not have the elastic recoil the exhale the entire breath out. The remainder of the breath becomes trapped in the lungs leaving the lungs somewhat overinflated. Chronic bronchitis patients have difficulty getting their breath in and out due to the inflammation associated with it. But their air doesn't become trapped in the lungs like with emphysema. I hope this answers your question.

Answer 7

Chronic bronchitis is the cause and emphysema the result. The obstruction caused by bronchitis cause rupture of alveoli and emphysema

Answer 8

Chornic bronchitis and emphysema are both part of the umbrella term COPD/COAD/COLD depending on which country you are from.

Chronic bronchitis is a clinical/symptom diagnosis, which means that its diagnosed based on symptoms of a chronic 'phelgm' producing cough for most days for 3 months or more in the span of 2 consecutive years.

Emphysema is a pathologic diagnosis, seen on CXR/CT/autopsy specimens which shows destruction of the lung tissue.

Both are mostly caused by smoking.
Both cause airways obstruction.
Both may cause shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, phlegm production.
Both might eventually lead to respiratory failure.

Answer 9

In chronic bronchitis it's the bronchial tubes that are damaged or infected while emphysema the lungs are clogged.

Answer 10

any diseased condition has acute(short termed) n chronic(prolonged)cases.emphysema is a condition in which the chest cavity attains a barrel shape seen in heavy smookers w/ alpha1 antitrypsin(protein)deficiency.