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Sorry to hear that.
Emphysema is a chronic respiratory condition where the alveoli (the small airspaces in the lungs) get destroyed, thereby decreasing the surface area in the lungs where gas transfer (oxygen and carbon dioxide) can occur. The lung tissue loses its "elasticity".
Therefore the person with emphysema can't get oxygen into their blood as easily as someone with undamaged lungs. So they are more easily puffed out with relatively smaller amounts of exercise/exertion. It depends on how severe the damage is as to how severe the symptoms are.
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis together are referred to as COAD or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and often a bit of one goes along with a predominance of the other.
Obviously, respiratory tract infections or anything that stresses the respiratory system is going to have a greater effect on your mum than it would on someone with normal lungs.
Also, the risks for infections of the lungs (eg pneumonia, acute bronchitis) are increased.
Unfortunately, the disease is not reversible.
Continuing to smoke or do other things that are damaging to the lungs can obviously worsen the damage.
Hope this answers some of your questions. Feel free to ask more.
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