The first symptom of chronic bronchitis is a persistent cough that brings up mucus. This is often followed by wheezing, shortness of breath, and frequent chest infections. The symptoms of bronchitis can usually be relieved or improved with treatment. Emphysema Emphysema develops when many of the small air sacs or alveoli in the lungs are destroyed. This reduces their elasticity and decreases their ability to pass oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the blood.
Shortness of breath is the major symptom of emphysema.
At first, this difficulty in breathing may occur only with heavy exercise. Later it happens with light exercise and, still later, even when walking or engaging in other everyday activities. Many people who have emphysema also have chronic bronchitis. The mucus produced by these inflamed airways makes breathing even more difficult. In most cases, a person's lungs can take a lot of abuse.