Emphysema often occurs alongside other lung and heart conditions, including chronic bronchitis, asthma, heart disease, and pulmonary hypertension.

Emphysema is a chronic lung condition that damages the tiny air sacs in the lungs, making it harder to breathe. Over time, this damage can limit airflow and reduce how much oxygen reaches the body.

Many people with emphysema also have other health conditions that affect the heart or lungs. These related conditions can worsen breathlessness, increase flare-ups, or make treatment more challenging.

People with emphysema often have other lung or heart conditions. Some share the same risk factors while others develop as complications of long-term lung damage.

Common co-occurring conditions include:

  • Chronic bronchitis: Often occurs alongside emphysema as part of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It causes long-term cough, excess mucus, and frequent respiratory infections.
  • Asthma: Some people have both asthma and emphysema, sometimes called asthma-COPD overlap. This combination can lead to more frequent flare-ups and more severe breathing symptoms.
  • Pulmonary hypertension: Long-term low oxygen levels can increase blood pressure in the lungs, leading to fatigue, chest discomfort, dizziness, or swelling in the legs.
  • Heart disease: Chronic lung strain and reduced oxygen can place extra stress on the heart over time. This increases the risk of heart complications, including right-sided heart failure.
  • Respiratory infections: Reduced lung function and poor mucus clearance increase the risk of repeated infections, such as pneumonia, influenza, or bronchitis.
  • Sleep apnea: Repeated pauses in breathing during sleep can lower oxygen levels and increase strain on the heart and lungs, which can worsen emphysema symptoms.
  • Lung cancer: Smoking is a major risk factor for both lung cancer and emphysema, and the two conditions often occur together.

When these conditions co-occur, they can influence symptoms and disease severity in people with emphysema.

Several conditions can cause symptoms similar to emphysema. Although these symptoms may feel alike, the causes and treatments differ.

Conditions that may be mistaken for emphysema include:

  • Bronchiectasis: Causes widened airways, mucus buildup, and repeated lung infections, leading to chronic breathlessness that can resemble emphysema.
  • Interstitial lung disease: Causes lung scarring and progressive shortness of breath, especially during activity, which can be mistaken for emphysema.
  • Asthma: Can cause wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath that resemble emphysema, especially when symptoms are persistent.
  • Heart failure: Fluid buildup in the lungs can lead to shortness of breath and fatigue that mimic lung disease symptoms.
  • Chronic bronchitis: Causes chronic cough, mucus production, and breathlessness that may resemble emphysema, even without air sac (alveoli) damage.
  • Tuberculosis: A lung infection that can cause chronic cough, chest discomfort, and shortness of breath similar to emphysema.
  • Anemia: Can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest discomfort due to reduced oxygen delivery in the blood, which may resemble emphysema.

Doctors use lung function tests, imaging such as CT scans, and medical history to tell these conditions apart.

You should speak with a doctor if you notice:

Seek emergency care for severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, confusion, or sudden symptom changes, as these may indicate a serious complication.

COPD is a broad term that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema causes damage to the lung tissue and tiny air sacs, while COPD refers to long-term airflow blockage caused by one or both conditions. Many people with COPD have features of both emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

There’s no cure for emphysema, but treatment helps ease symptoms, improve breathing, and reduce complications.

Common treatment options include:

  • Medications: Bronchodilators relax airway muscles to improve airflow, while inhaled corticosteroids reduce inflammation. Many people use combination inhalers for daily symptom control.
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation: Pulmonary rehab programs combine supervised exercise, breathing techniques, and education to improve stamina and daily function.
  • Oxygen therapy: Doctors may prescribe supplemental oxygen for people with low oxygen levels to support breathing and reduce strain on the heart and brain.
  • Vaccines: Flu, pneumonia, and COVID-19 vaccines lower the risk of serious respiratory infections that can worsen emphysema symptoms.
  • Lifestyle support: Quitting smoking if you smoke, avoiding air pollution, staying physically active, and maintaining good nutrition can help slow disease progression.
  • Surgical options: In severe cases, doctors may recommend lung volume reduction surgery or lung transplantation for carefully selected people.

A healthcare professional can help answer questions about medications and walk you through your treatment options.

The outlook for emphysema varies from person to person and depends on several factors, including the severity of lung damage, smoking history, the presence of other medical conditions, and how early treatment begins.

People with mild emphysema generally have a better outlook, especially if they stop smoking and follow their treatment plan. Early diagnosis and proper management can help slow disease progression and reduce symptoms.

Advanced emphysema is linked to a higher risk of complications and worse outcomes, especially in people with frequent flare-ups or heart-related complications. Coexisting conditions, such as asthma, can further affect quality of life and long-term outcomes.

Emphysema often occurs alongside other lung and heart conditions, which can influence symptoms, treatment choices, and overall health. Identifying and managing these related conditions early may help reduce complications and improve symptom control.

If you have emphysema, regular check-ups, symptom monitoring, and consistent care can help manage breathing problems and maintain quality of life. Working with a healthcare professional ensures that any related conditions are identified and managed together.