I was diagnosed with emphysema with no acute airspace disease. what does that mean exactly.

Emphysema.: Emphysema is a destruction of lung tissue with resultant reduction in oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange and respiratory effort. It's usually due to smoking but could be due to other medial conditions. It's treatable but not curable. The absence of acute airspace disease means there’s nothing like a pneumonia or fluid overload superimposed atop the chronic issue (emphysema).