Emphysema is a lung condition that damages air sacs or alveoli. These air sacs deliver oxygen to the blood, and in damaged air sacs, less oxygen can enter the blood. Chronic bronchitis is a lung condition that damages tiny hairs, called cilia. Let us talk about the symptoms and differences between chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Differences between chronic bronchitis and emphysema
The difference between chronic bronchitis and emphysema is that chronic bronchitis creates a frequent cough with mucus. Breath shortness is the main sign of emphysema. Due to genetics, emphysema can increase. An inherited condition called alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency can create some cases of emphysema.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease can cause chronic bronchitis. People who have respiratory problems when they are young may also have a higher risk of chronic bronchitis.

Emphysema is irreversible, but it is possible to limit the condition from worsening. People with severe emphysema may need lung reduction surgery. It is a procedure that removes areas of the diseased lung and allows healthier parts to work perfectly. It can make people stay active and improve their quality of life.
Symptoms of emphysema and chronic bronchitis
The symptoms of emphysema may contain:

- Heart issues
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Coughing daily or almost every day
- Wheezing
- Rapid breathing and heartbeat
- Barrel-shaped chest

The symptoms of chronic bronchitis may contain:
- Wheezing
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Due to lack of oxygen blueness in the fingernails, lips, or skin
- Crackling breathing sounds
- Swollen feet
- Heart failure.
How to tell the difference
A doctor can carry out different tests to check if a person has emphysema, chronic bronchitis, or another lung condition.
Pulmonary function tests show the condition of the lungs by analyzing how air moves in and out of them. Some examples contain:

Spirometry
During spirometry, a person will exhale into a tube that links to a machine called a spirometer. It shows the volume of air they are inhaling and exhaling. Spirometry helps to show whether airflow is restricted or disrupted, how serious a lung condition is.
Arterial blood gases
For identifying oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood, a doctor will take blood from an artery and test it.

Peak flow monitoring
In peak flow monitoring, a machine evaluates how fast a person can blow air out of their lungs. It calculates how much the condition is blocking the airways. Using these tests, performing a detailed physical examination, and taking a thorough medical history, a doctor will be able to determine whether the condition is emphysema or chronic bronchitis.

If a person has a chronic cough that creates mucus for at least three months of the year for two years in a row, it may signal chronic bronchitis. If a person has stretched lungs or lungs that are larger than normal lungs, then it is a symptom of emphysema.

Summary
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are two different lung conditions that create an overall condition called COPD. Both conditions can trigger breathing difficulty and shortness of breath. People who have chronic bronchitis will have a long-term cough that creates mucus. A doctor can use various tests to identify these conditions. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis need similar treatment methods for people to manage the symptoms.