emphysemanoun [ U ]
uk/ˌem.fəˈsiː.mə/us/ˌem.fəˈsiː.mə/a condition in which the small sacs (= spaces) in the lungs become filled with too much air, causing breathing difficulties and heart problems:
Heavy cigarette smoking often causes emphysema.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Respiratory disorders
- altitude sickness
- apnoea
- asbestosis
- bird flu
- black lung disease
- bronchitis
- bunged up
- central sleep apnoea
- cystic fibrosis
- hyperventilation
- pharyngitis
- pleurisy
- pneumothorax
- pulmonary fibrosis
- pulmonary hypertension
- rhinitis
- SARS
- shortness of breath
- wheeze
- whooping cough
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