According to Dr. Edward Schultz, Director of Emergency Services at KEMH, everyone develops a certain amount of emphysema. “I see patients with lung disease that have never smoked,” he said. “Certainly smoking greatly increases your risk.”

But you may not realise other factors that increase your risk until it’s too late. Recurrent lung infections, bronchitis and asthma all put strain on lung tissue and over time can cause some of the tissue to die. This is emphysema.

Dr. Schultz said antibiotics can help people who develop these conditions, not to strain their lungs.

He did note, however, that antibiotics are generally not recommended for young healthy people even those with acute bronchitis.

“Antibiotics have been shown to be of benefit in patients with chronic lung disease who develop acute lung infections,” he said.

A change in the colour of your sputum is a good indicator that you have a lung infection. He also advises a yearly influenza vaccine for those over 50, especially if they have chronic lung or heart disease.

He also recommends this population receive pneumococcal vaccine as a one-time dose.