Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

COPD refers to a spectrum of lung diseases, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In reality, most individuals have varying degrees of both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. People with COPD typically have difficulty breathing and may suffer from a range of other symptoms, including coughing, wheezing chest tightness, and shortness of breath. In many cases, the first symptoms of the disease are relatively mild, but they tend to worsen over time.

Most commonly, people complain of secretions that are difficult to clear. This is due to damage caused by the inhalation of smoke or other chemicals leading to ineffective clearing of normal secretions in the lungs. While asthma and COPD have similar treatment and are often used synonymously, they are grossly different in the way they affect the lungs.

Asthma causes inflammation in the airways that is usually reversible while COPD affects both the tubes in the lungs and the lung bubbles (alveoli). In COPD this leads to air entering the lungs far easier than when blowing out and ultimately air is trapped in the lungs and causes shortness of breath. Diagnosing COPD is dependant on multiple factors including symptoms, lung function tests and usually an x-ray of the lungs.

A number of factors may cause the condition. The most common cause, however, is tobacco smoking. Exposure to harmful chemicals and fumes can also cause the condition, while genetic factors may also play a role. The treatment used is similar to asthma treatment aiming to relieve shortness of breath and improve lung emptying.