What is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?

About Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD):

• It is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs.
• There are two main forms of COPD:
  • Chronic bronchitis, which involves a long-term cough with mucus.
  • Emphysema, which involves damage to the lungs over time.
• Most people with COPD have a combination of both conditions.
• Causes:
  • It's typically caused by long-term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter, most often from cigarette smoke.
  • Tobacco smoking accounts for over 70% of COPD cases in high-income countries. In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), tobacco smoking accounts for 30–40% of COPD cases, and household air pollution is a major risk factor.
• Signs and symptoms:
  • The most common symptoms of COPD are difficulty breathing, chronic cough (sometimes with phlegm) and feeling tired.
  • COPD symptoms can get worse quickly. These are called flare-ups. These usually last for a few days and often require additional medicine.
  • People with COPD are at increased risk of developing heart disease, lung cancer, and a variety of other conditions.
• Treatment:
  • COPD isn’t curable, but it can get better by not smoking, avoiding air pollution, and getting vaccines.
  • It can be treated with medicines, oxygen, and pulmonary rehabilitation.