Question:

I have just recieved my results from a recent CT scan and it shows I have emphysematous changes does this mean I have emphysema?

Answer:

Thank you for visiting NetWellness and for your question. Only a health professional performing a thorough clinical exam is able to evaluate your symptoms and discuss your case specifically. 

For people who smoke, emphysematous changes generally mean that you have developed damage to your lungs from smoking. There are other less common causes of emphysematous changes, but tobacco smoke exposure is the most common. Tobacco smoke causes damage to the small air sacs in the lungs by destroying the walls of these tiny air spaces. When the air spaces are destroyed and become bigger, the term used to describe the change is emphysema. 

It is never too late to quit smoking. I would encourage you to speak with your physician about these results further and about help in tobacco cessation.

For more information:

Go to the COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) health topic.