Emphysema is a chronic, progressive disease effecting more than three million people in the United States.

Damage from the disease is irreversible.

Research is being done in Peoria that could help ease the symptoms.

Dixie Judd smoked for more than 60 years.

She said, "I've been smoke free for two months now."

Doctors diagnosed Judd with Severe emphysema.

Judd says, "It's not only hard to breathe, I retain so much of the air. 84 percent of the air, I'm not getting rid of. Especially in the winter time, I couldn't even get to my car, because I couldn't breathe."

Judd is now undergoing a preliminary test.

Doctors are determining if she's a candidate to be part of a test group for a new medical procedure.

Researchers want to know if stents surgically placed in the lungs will relieve symptoms of Emphyssema.

Doctor William Tillis is the lead investigator of the clinical trials being done in Peoria.

He explains the procedure as, "A bronchoscope, we're able to put these new airways in. There are stents that create new passageways which allow, patients with emphysema, have very large lungs and what this allows it to do, is let some of the air out. The lungs get smaller and the patients are able to breathe better."

For someone with severe emphysema now, the current medical protocol is to have damaged lung tissue surgically removed. Doctors say the procedure is similar to an open-heart surgery.

Doctor Tillis says, "This is a non-invasive way that gets the same effects, Which basically lets some of the air out of the lungs."

Once the patients are approved for the study they will undergo extensive testing.

Then two out of the three patients will get the stents.

The patients will have to return several times over the next year and then once a year for four years for follow up appointment... all of the work is done in Peoria.

Dixie says she's thankful the worldwide trails are being done in Peoria. She said, "It's almost been overwhelming to me just thinking about it all. I'm thrilled to be in this area. A big reason I wanted to be down here was because of the medical facilities and the great doctors."

Dixie hopes she is chosen for the groundbreaking study that could help millions of ex-smokers.

More people are needed for the study being put on by the Peoria Pulmonary Associates.

For more information you can call 669-1165.