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Emphysema and bronchitis

Illustration comparing emphysema and bronchitis

Both emphysema and chronic bronchitis cause permanent damage to your lungs and airways. With emphysema, chronic inflammation damages the walls of the alveoli — tiny air spaces in your lungs. Chronic bronchitis is a permanent inflammation and thickening of the walls of your bronchial tubes. Eventually, the tubes narrow, causing shortness of breath and a constant cough that brings up large amounts of mucus.

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