There are a couple dozen other elements that are in there in trace amounts, but to a first approximation you're just a bag of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Now, it turns out that the atmosphere is a bag of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen as well, and it's not living.
Cigarette smoking is the most common irritant that causes emphysema. Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoking can also cause emphysema, especially if the smoke is inhaled. Fumes and Dust. Breathing in other fumes and dusts over a long period of time may also cause the disease.
The most common cause of emphysema is cigarette smoking, although rare forms of emphysema may occur in non-smokers. Emphysema may be present with other lung diseases, such as chronic bronchitis and asthma.Like emphysema, these diseases are made worse by cigarette smoking.Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are often grouped together and commonly called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Exposure to air pollution and noxious particles or gases could also cause or worsen these conditions.he most common cause of emphysema is cigarette smoking, although rare forms of emphysema may occur in non-smokers. Emphysema may be present with other lung diseases, such as chronic bronchitis and asthma.