Overview
“Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease” (COPD) is a term for certain types of irreversible lung and airway damage that block (obstruct) your airways and make it hard to breathe. If you’re diagnosed with either emphysema or chronic bronchitis, you have COPD.
Changes in your lungs and airways in COPD include:
- Loss of elasticity in your airways and air sacs in your lungs (alveoli).
- Inflammation, scarring (fibrosis) and narrowing of your airways.
- Thick mucus in your airways.
- Destruction of the walls between your alveoli. This enlarges them and traps air.
People with COPD often get exacerbations, or worsening of symptoms, like severe difficulty breathing, thicker mucus, wheezing and cough. You might need to go to the hospital for severe exacerbations.
COPD gets progressively worse over time. Flare-ups get more severe and happen more often. This usually takes years or decades, though some people get worse faster.
Types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
COPD includes both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. People with COPD often have features of both.
- Emphysema is when your alveoli become damaged and enlarged. The most common symptom is shortness of breath (dyspnea).
- Chronic bronchitis is inflammation in your large airways. This narrows your airways and makes lots of mucus. Cough is the most common symptom.
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Complications
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Some types of heart valve disease.
Prevention
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
- Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
- Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce and manage stress.
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