Chronic Bronchitis vs. Emphysema: What’s the Difference?

In 2021, an estimated 14 million adults in the United States reported a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, or emphysema. If you’re not sure what the difference is between the three conditions, that’s understandable — you may hear them used interchangeably, although they aren’t the same thing.