Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease in which the lung is damaged, making it difficult to breathe. In COPD, the airways (the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs) are partly obstructed, making it difficult to get air in and out.
COPD is a major cause of death and illness throughout the world. It is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and the world.
The airways branch out like an inverted tree, and at the end of each branch are many small, balloon-like air sacs. In healthy people, each airway is clear and open, the air sacs are small and dainty, and both are elastic and springy. When you breathe in, each air sac fills up with air, like a small balloon, and when you breathe out, the balloon deflates and the air goes out
(see Lung Anatomy).
In COPD, the airways and air sacs lose their shape and become floppy. Less air gets in and less air goes out because:
- The airways and air sacs lose their elasticity (like an old rubber band)
- The walls between many of the air sacs are destroyed
- The walls of the airways become thick and inflamed (swollen)
- Cells in the airways make more mucus (sputum) than usual, which tends to clog the airways.
COPD develops slowly, and it may be many years before you notice symptoms, such as feeling short of breath. Most of the time, COPD is diagnosed in middle-aged or older people.
COPD: Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis
In the United States, COPD includes:
In the emphysema type of COPD, the walls between many of the air sacs are destroyed, leading to a few large air sacs, instead of many tiny ones. Then, the lung looks like a sponge with many large bubbles or holes in it, instead of a sponge with very even, tiny holes. These few large air sacs have less surface area than the normal tiny ones for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Poor exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide causes shortness of breath.
In chronic bronchitis, the airways have become inflamed and thickened, and there is an increase in the number and size of the mucus-producing cells. This results in excessive mucus production, which, in turn, contributes to cough and difficulty getting air in and out of the lungs.
Most people with COPD have both chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Other names for COPD include chronic obstructive airway disease and chronic obstructive lung disease.
Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of COPD. Most people with the condition are smokers or former smokers. Breathing in other kinds of lung irritants, like pollution, dust, or chemicals, over a long period of time may also cause or contribute to COPD.
COPD is not contagious, meaning you cannot catch it from someone else.
Symptoms of COPD
COPD symptoms typically include:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing.
These symptoms may suddenly get worse. The severity of the symptoms depends on how much of the lung has been destroyed; if you continue to smoke, the lung destruction is faster than if you stop smoking.
Diagnosing COPD
In order to make a COPD diagnosis, the healthcare provider will ask a number of questions, perform a physical exam, and recommend certain breathing tests. Before diagnosing COPD, he or she will also consider other medical conditions that may share similar symptoms with COPD.
Treatment for COPD
There is no cure for COPD. The damage to your airways and lungs cannot be reversed, but there are things you can do to feel better and slow the damage to your lungs. COPD treatment goals are focused on relieving symptoms, improving exercise tolerance, and improving your overall health. Quitting smoking is also the single most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of developing COPD and slow the progress of the disease. Although COPD cannot be cured, seeking proper treatment for it as soon as possible can also help slow down the progression of the disease.
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