3) Antibiotics -- These are used to fight acute bronchitis or pneumonia, which can complicate emphysema.

4) Pulmonary rehabilitation – Therapists may instruct patients in ways to cope with shortness of breath. These include breathing exercises and ways to control breathlessness.

5) Oxygen -- For those who have end-stage emphysema with extremely low blood oxygen levels, it may be necessary to have supplementary oxygen to provide some relief. The oxygen is administered with a mask or narrow tubing and may be used 24 hours a day in severe cases.

6) Nutrition -- This is guidance that can help sufferers lose weight, which can ease burdens on the respiratory system. For those in the very late stages of the disease, the process may be reversed because they may need to gain weight.

7) Surgery -- There are some surgical techniques that may ease emphysema symptoms. These include lung volume reduction, where small wedges of damaged lung tissue are removed to help the rest of the lung tissue expand and work better, thereby improving breathing; or a lung transplant, which will remove the diseased lungs and replace them with new ones.

How Does Emphysema Happen?

Emphysema begins when the inner walls of the lung air sacs begin to weaken, eventually rupturing and creating a large air space. This eventually reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the lungs, and upon exhalation, the damaged air sacs don't work well. Air becomes trapped, leaving little room for the new air to enter.