Does shortness of breath mean possible emphysema?

It could: The most common cause of shortness of breath is asthma or other causes of wheezing, or chronic obstructive lung disease in smokers. Simple poor conditioning, obesity, heart disease and othe r lung diseases need to b considered.

Yes it might: Shortness of breath has many causes, from benign - out of shape- to more severe - asthma, emphysema, congestive heart failure, etc. If a smoker who has smoked more than 1-2 packs a day for 20 yrs starts experiencing shortness of breath - should see md for exam, xray and pulmonary function tests... But ultimately stop smoking...

Yes: But, it can also mean a whole lot of other things: asthma, heart disease, just being overweight/out of shape, thyroid disease, etc. So, i would see a doctor for a full evaluation.