In 1945, when Allied forces liberated the concentration camps at Dachau, Bergen-Belsen, Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen, Auschwitz and elsewhere, the world was shocked at the sight of images of dead bodies alongside half-dead people in these camps.
Emphysema results when the delicate linings of the air sacs in the lungs become damaged beyond repair. Most commonly, the toxins in cigarette smoke create the damage. The lung changes of emphysema evolve slowly over years: 1  As the fragile tissues between air sacs are destroyed, air pockets in the lungs develop. 2  Air becomes trapped in these spaces of damaged lung tissue. 3  The lungs slowly enlarge, and breathing requires more effort.
Yes: the lungs begin to clear themselves almost as soon as you quit, but the process can take many months, and even years. Risks of lung and heart disease return back to baseline after about 10 years following quitting.How well the lungs heal depends on how much damage was done.If someone has severe emphysema, it will not get worse, but might not get much better. Otherwise, healing is pretty good.isks of lung and heart disease return back to baseline after about 10 years following quitting. How well the lungs heal depends on how much damage was done. If someone has severe emphysema, it will not get worse, but might not get much better.