The life expectancy of a patient with emphysema is related to the age of the patient and the severity of the emphysema. If the patient with emphysema is of advanced age and has relatively severe ventilation dysfunction, the life expectancy is about 3 years. If the patient is younger, has only limited emphysema and does not have persistent airflow limitation as well as ventilation dysfunction, life expectancy will not be affected much by aggressive intervention and prevention. Patients are advised to quit smoking, stay away from occupational dust exposure, prevent colds, regularly monitor lung CT, lung function and actively intervene and treat emphysema.