How is emphysema typically diagnosed?

Emphysema is typically diagnosed by assessing lung function, which is the cornerstone of the diagnostic process for this chronic lung condition. This assessment often includes pulmonary function tests (PFTs) that measure how much air a person can exhale and how fast they can do so. In patients with emphysema, these tests often reveal reduced airflow and difficulties in exhalation due to the destruction of the alveoli, which are the tiny air sacs in the lungs responsible for gas exchange.

Other methods may support the diagnosis, such as imaging studies like chest X-rays or CT scans, which can show structural changes in the lungs. However, the primary and most direct approach to confirming emphysema involves evaluating lung function to observe the characteristic patterns indicative of this condition.