Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are lung diseases that are qualified as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD. Emphysema is a lung disease in which the alveoli supplying oxygen to the blood are damaged, so the blood is not oxygenated properly (Papadakis et al., 2018). Chronic bronchitis is a respiratory illness that destroys the cilia in the bronchi, and then the airways become inflamed, leading to shortness of breath (Papadakis et al., 2018). While the diseases have similar symptoms like difficult breathing and wheezing, there is a clear-cut difference.
The causes of the two conditions and treatment in many cases coincide. The leading cause of both emphysema and chronic bronchitis is smoking. Risk factors may also include a family history of lung disease, secondhand smoke, and air pollution (Papadakis et al., 2018). However, in rare cases, emphysema results from congenital alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. In general, the majority of patients with COPD (85%) smoke or have smoked before (Roche, 2018). Thus, quitting smoking accelerates external respiration and has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system and reduces lung cancer risk. Drug treatment for pulmonary emphysema and chronic bronchitis is aimed at relieving symptoms and improving lung function. Both conditions are treated similarly with the use of bronchodilators, oxygen therapy, hormones, and drugs that relieve symptoms such as wheezing or coughing (Roche, 2018). Nevertheless, lung surgery is the only remedy for certain severe cases.
The two diseases are diagnosed due to different symptoms. The difference between these diseases is that chronic bronchitis causes frequent wet coughing (Roche, 2018). Difficult breathing is a major symptom of emphysema. However, the disorder can sometimes occur due to a hereditary predisposition (Papadakis et al., 2018). One more difference is that emphysema is an irreversible condition, but it can be stopped, so the symptoms do not worsen. However, it is believed that chronic bronchitis and emphysema rarely occur in their pure form: in most patients, both diseases are combined to one degree or another: depending on the prevailing symptoms, two types of COPD are distinguished, bronchitis and emphysematous (Papadakis et al., 2018). Therefore, the doctor should run pulmonary function tests to diagnose emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or both conditions.
References
Papadakis, M. A., Mcphee, S. J., & Rabow, M. W. (2018). Current medical diagnosis & treatment (57th ed.). Mcgraw-Hill Professional.
Roche, N. (2018). Stable COPD treatment: Where are we? COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 15(2), 123–129.