Stephanie has been a smoker for many years and has lately developed a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. her doctor tells her that her illness is probably a result of her smoking though some cases have genetic roots as well. Stephanie is probably suffering from
a. emphysema
b. lung cancer
c. asthma
d. acute bronchitis

a. Emphysema

Explanation:

Emphysema is a lung condition that causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the air sacs in the lungs are damaged. Over time, the inner walls of the air sacs weaken and rupture creating larger air spaces instead of many small ones.

Emphysema is a type of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). COPD is a group of lung diseases that causes breathing to be difficult and get worse over time.

chronic bronchitis us a type of COPD. Most people with COPD have both emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Emphysema affects the air sacs in the lungs. These sacs are elastic or stretchy.

When you breathe in, each air sac fills up with air, like a small balloon. When someone breathe out, the air sacs deflate, and the air goes out.

In emphysema, the walls between many of the air sacs in the lungs are damaged. This causes the air sacs to lose their shape and become floppy. The damage also can destroy the walls of the air sacs, leading to fewer and larger air sacs instead of many tiny ones. This makes it harder for your lungs to move oxygen in and carbon dioxide out of your body.

The cause of emphysema is usually long-term exposure to irritants that damage the lungs and the airways.

cigarette smoke is the main cause. Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoke can also cause emphysema, especially if one nhale them.

Exposure to other inhaled irritants can contribute to emphysema. These include secondhand smoke, air pollution, and chemical fumes or dusts from the environments.