What are some sources that describe the last stages of emphysema?

WebMD, MedicineNet and Healthline describe the last stages of emphysema. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease divides emphysema into four stages, progressing in severity from stage 1, or mild emphysema, to stage 4, which is the most advanced stage of the disease, explains MedicineNet.

Shortness of breath is the major symptom of emphysema, and other symptoms include coughing and wheezing. Breathing difficulties slowly worsen as the disease progresses to the final stages, according to MedicineNet. In the early stages of emphysema, patients may only experience shortness of breath during exercise, but by the last stages, patients have difficulty breathing even at rest and may require oxygen supplementation.

Although emphysema staging is useful, specific symptoms and experiences can vary widely between two patients in the same stage of the disease, notes WebMD.