Question: how many years does it take to get emphysema?
Answer: Air sacs (called alveoli). It's common for people to have both types of COPD—chronic bronchitis and emphysema. About 1 out of 5 people who have smoked at least one pack of cigarettes each day for at least 10 years “gets” COPD. Unfortunately, there's no way to identify those at risk for developing emphysema.