Information on COPD

• COPD

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a lung disease characterized by difficulty breathing. As this eMedTV article explains, it develops when damage to the lung occurs. This page offers an overview of COPD, including symptoms and treatment.

• Lung Anatomy

This eMedTV article talks about the anatomy of the lung, explaining how a slice of normal lung looks similar to a pink sponge filled with tiny bubbles or holes. This page describes lung anatomy in more detail and also includes information on COPD.

• Causes of COPD

This page of the eMedTV Web site explores common causes of COPD, such as tobacco smoke, dust, and chemical fumes. It also describes a genetic condition that may predispose people to the disease and cause it to destroy the lungs more quickly.

• COPD Symptoms

Common COPD symptoms include sputum production, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. This eMedTV resource provides a detailed look at symptoms associated with this disease, including factors that can make them worse.

• COPD Diagnosis

To confirm a COPD diagnosis, tests may be recommended in addition to a medical history and physical exam. This eMedTV page describes in detail the process used to make a COPD diagnosis, including tests such as chest x-rays and arterial blood gas.

• COPD Stages

This section of the eMedTV Web site describes the four COPD stages in detail, including how the symptoms get progressively worse with each stage and tests used to make the determination. The stages include at risk, mild, moderate, and severe.

• COPD Treatment

COPD treatment options include bronchodilators, steroids, oxygen therapy, and pulmonary rehab. This page from the eMedTV archives describes these and other treatment options, and explains how they help relieve symptoms and make breathing easier.

• COPD Prognosis

A COPD prognosis is an indication of the most likely course and outcome of the disease. This page of the eMedTV website explains how this prognosis is reached and describes how COPD generally worsens over time.

• COPD Rehabilitation

This eMedTV page describes how COPD rehabilitation is a coordinated program of exercise, disease management training, and counseling that helps you stay active and carry out day-to-day activities. This page also lists the members of your rehab team.

• Living With COPD

This eMedTV Web page offers tips and suggestions for living with COPD, such as making a few lifestyle and environmental changes. Living with COPD may be difficult, but by implementing some of these tips, you may be able to better manage the disease.

• COPD Statistics

This segment from the eMedTV Web site provides a range of COPD statistics pertaining to mortality rates, morbidity rates, and how the condition affects women as compared to men. At least 24 million Americans were affected by the disease in 2000.