I have searched the internet for many hours trying to find an answer and I can only find vague explanations.
So phagocytes release elastase which destroys elastin in the alveolar and bronchioles, this causes the alveolar to become enlarged making it harder to breathe out as they no longer go back down to their usual size which would push air out. Also, the bronchioles lose the elastin which supports them and keeps them open, making them more likely to collapse when coupled with the loss of positive pressure that is usually applied on them when the alveolar forces air out.
and then somehow the alveolar walls become destroyed which results in loss of surface area in the alveolar. I can find no explanation as for how they are destroyed. I can find some vague references to trapped air and coughing, and others to enlargement of alveolar walls somehow equals destruction. The star trek enterprise doesn't just beam the alveolar walls into space, how are they destroyed exactly once they have become enlarged? More enzymes from phagocytes break the walls down entirely? coughing? How do we go from loss of elasticity to destruction?