In fact, most of those that do get to the doctor get there when their condition is severe and advanced.  Usually their lungs have already been scarred and are seriously injured.   

 

When you reach this stage of chronic bronchitis, your condition can lead to additional problems such as respiratory problems (problems breathing easily) or even heart failure, which in itself is life threatening.

 

Yet, many cases can be lessened in severity of the proper doctor’s advice were to be gotten and taken to prevent it from worsening.

 

What’s Emphysema’s Story?

 

COPD is shared by both chronic bronchitis and emphysema because many patients that have one will also have the other.  In this condition, the problem lies in the alveoli which are inside of the lungs.  This is the location where your body takes oxygen from the air you breathe and exchanges it with carbon dioxide that is already in the blood. 

 

The alveoli, which are also called air sacs, have very thin, soft and very fragile walls.  When these walls are damaged, they can’t be fixed and there’s no way to replace or reverse the damage to them.  Usually, small holes develop in their tissues especially in the lower lung area. 

 

Since your body needs these air sacs to provide oxygen to the body and to remove the carbon dioxide from your blood, it is vitally important to keep them in good condition.  Yet, slowly, as each one is damaged by holes, they become useless and stop functioning.

 

As more and more are destroyed in this manner, your body is less likely to get all of the oxygen that it needs into its bloodstream.  This is characterized on the outside by you not getting enough air, which leaves you breathless.

 

When you can’t catch your breath, this is why.  And, it only worsens from here.  In the next step of the problem, your lungs lose their elasticity, or their ability to stretch and come back into shape. 

 

When this occurs, the body can’t keep your airways open enough for you to bring air into the body for use.  When this happens, you have a lot of problem trying to exhale or get the air you take it out of your body again.

 

As you can see, this condition is just as drastically frightening and worrisome as that of chronic bronchitis.  When the two are paired together, this is an even worse condition for you to be in.