Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] Yes, thank you.  I have severe emphysema and for the last 10-12 months have had a rib pain that is a tightening around my lungs along with a lot of pain - my breathing becomes shallow and life just becomes miserable.  What causes the ribs to tighten and hurt so much,Thanks
[|AI|]  Emphysema is the dilatation of the alveoli which is the smallest unit of lung or the smallest respiratory unit dilatation of alveoli occurs in cop din emphysema lungs grow in size and that causes the symptoms of coughs breathlessness, phlegm tightening symptoms are due to obstruction in the airways pain in ribs can be a symptom you need to consult a Pulmonologist who ll request for a spirometry and ll stage your disease and give you inhaled medications as necessarythanksfeel free to ask more questions