thanks for your question emphysema is the dilatation of alveoli. alveoli are the gas exchanging structures inthe lung there are millions of aleveoli in lung alveolar dilatation is causes by smoking from the last 3 you have not smoked but may be you have earlier been smoking other causes of emphysema can be enviormental smoke and alfaone antripsin deficiency that is an enzyme dialatation causes emphysema emphysema or copd is a disease of lungs which causes emphysema in my patients i diagnose copd by a chest xray and confirm it by a spirometry after diagnosing i start them on inhaled medications which is the standard treatment for copd disscuss these points with your pulmonologist so that u get the best treatment thanks feel free to ask more questions may god bless you with good health