Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term used to describe a group of conditions that affect the lungs and cause difficulty breathing. The two main conditions that make up COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These conditions cause shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing.
COPD, which is usually caused by smoking, is a serious disease and a major cause of death across the world. The symptoms of COPD generally get worse over time. However, there are medications and lifestyle changes that can help slow the progression of the disease and reduce the symptoms.
A long-term, progressive condition in which the air sacs in the lungs are damaged. This causes breathlessness, as the lungs cannot adequately exchange gases across membranes.
Breathing with a whistling or rattling sound in the chest.
By far the biggest risk factor for developing COPD is being a smoker or having a history of smoking. Smoking can irritate the lungs and lead to airway inflammation. Over many years, this inflammation can cause irreversible damage to the lungs, which makes it progressively more difficult to breathe.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a protein that is normally found in the blood of healthy people. It plays an important role in protecting your lungs from damage. Some people have a genetic disorder that results in their body producing very small amounts of alpha-1 antitrypsin, which makes the lungs more prone to injury and eventually leads to COPD.
Breathing in other substances that irritate and inflame the lungs can also cause COPD. People who live and/or work in areas for many years where there are high levels of air pollution are at greater risk of developing COPD.
A body’s protective immune response to injury or infection. The accumulation of fluid, cells and proteins at the site of an infection or physical injury, resulting in swelling, heat, redness, pain and loss of function.
The two main forms of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These two conditions can occur separately or together.
Chronic bronchitis is a long-term condition that occurs when the lining of the large airways, called bronchi, become inflamed and swollen in response to irritants. This causes the airways to narrow and makes it more difficult to breathe. It also causes the airways to produce more mucus than usual, which can further block the airways.
Emphysema is a condition in which the air sacs in the lungs, called alveoli, are damaged due to inflammation from irritants. In a healthy lung, these air sacs allow oxygen in the air to be transferred into the blood. In emphysema, there is a progressive decline in the number of air sacs, which then limits the amount of oxygen entering the blood. Furthermore, with increasing damage to the air sacs, the natural elasticity of the lungs is lost, which makes it more difficult to breathe.
COPD causes damage to the airways and alveoli of the lungs.
1. The tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles in the lungs, where gas exchange occurs. 2. The bony tooth sockets in the jaw.
Airway passages that branch from the windpipe, which themselves branch into smaller passages. Bronchi is plural of bronchus.
A long-term, progressive condition in which the air sacs in the lungs are damaged. This causes breathlessness, as the lungs cannot adequately exchange gases across membranes.
A body’s protective immune response to injury or infection. The accumulation of fluid, cells and proteins at the site of an infection or physical injury, resulting in swelling, heat, redness, pain and loss of function.
A thick, viscous liquid that is secreted for lubrication and to form a protective lining over certain tissues.
The main symptom of COPD is shortness of breath, particularly with minimal exertion. In severe cases, it can occur even when resting. You may also experience the following:
In the advanced stages of the disease, the symptoms can also include tiredness and weight loss.
People with COPD may sometimes experience periods where their symptoms flare up and become worse than usual. Flare-ups, which are also known as exacerbations, can often lead to serious complications and some people may need hospital treatment.
COPD can cause wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest.
A thick, viscous liquid that is secreted for lubrication and to form a protective lining over certain tissues.
Mucus and possibly pus, bacteria and blood that is coughed up from the airways, typically as a result of an infection.
Breathing with a whistling or rattling sound in the chest.
To assess if you have COPD, your doctor will generally take a thorough medical history, including current or previous cigarette-smoking habits. It is also routine to have a physical exam of your lungs and heart.
The most common test used to diagnose COPD and its severity is called spirometry. This measures your lung function by assessing how much air you can breathe in and out, and how forcibly you can exhale.
Your doctor may also recommend some other tests, such as an X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan of your chest to look for signs of damage to your lungs, or a blood test to measure how much oxygen is in your blood.
A scan that uses X-rays to create a 3D image of the body. This can detect abnormalities more effectively than a simple X-ray can.
A scan that uses ionizing radiation beams to create an image of the body’s internal structures.
There are lifestyle changes and medications that can help manage the condition:
Quitting smoking is the most important action you can take if you have COPD. Lung function naturally declines as you get older, but smoking can make this happen much faster. Even though you may not be able to undo the lung damage, preventing further damage from smoking can stop the condition from getting worse.
Quitting smoking is the most important action for managing COPD.
There are several other things a person with COPD can do to help manage their symptoms and prevent their condition from getting worse. These include:
There are several types of medication available to help people with COPD manage their symptoms and reduce how often they get flare-ups.
Bronchodilators are medications that may help to relieve some of the symptoms of COPD, such as wheezing and shortness of breath. These medications are usually inhaled and work by relaxing the muscles around the airways, which helps the airways to open up. Common bronchodilators used to treat COPD include:
Inhaled corticosteroids, such as budesonide or beclomethasone, are sometimes used to help reduce lung inflammation and treat exacerbations. Sometimes a treatment plan for COPD can include the use of bronchodilators and corticosteroids. This is sometimes referred to as combination therapy.
Oral corticosteroids may be needed for short periods, especially during exacerbations where inhalers can be less effective.
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program that is used together with medication to help manage COPD, and often forms an important part of management of this condition. It can involve education about the disease and how it is managed, exercise training and breathing techniques to assist with control of symptoms.
Some people with COPD may need to have oxygen therapy if they have low levels of oxygen in their blood. This can be carried out at home with a small machine that concentrates oxygen from normal air, or a gas cylinder that contains oxygen. Oxygen therapy can help to restore your oxygen levels back to normal to avoid any complications. How long you need to spend on oxygen therapy can differ from person to person and depends on how severe your condition is. It is usually not possible to receive oxygen therapy while you are a smoker.
Surgery is rarely indicated for COPD. Some people with COPD may need to undergo lung reduction surgery to remove diseased parts of their lung.
A medication that resembles the cortisol hormone produced in the brain. It is used as an anti-inflammatory medication.
A body’s protective immune response to injury or infection. The accumulation of fluid, cells and proteins at the site of an infection or physical injury, resulting in swelling, heat, redness, pain and loss of function.
Long-acting medications that are effective over a prolonged period and often used in chronic lung conditions to relax and dilate airways which make breathing easier.
A particular medication that affects the bronchioles, used to treat asthma and other diseases of the airways. Long-acting medications are effective over a prolonged period.
These are medications that dilate the airways and used for treating asthma and other breathing difficulties. They act by blocking the function of a chemical called acetylcholine and the length of duration of these preparations is a few hours.
Medications that relax the airways and are used in the treatment of asthma and other breathing difficulties. They act by switching on the beta receptor and their duration is generally a few hours.
The practice of administering a vaccine, a solution containing a microorganism (that causes a specific disease) in a dead or weakened state, or parts of it, for the purpose of inducing immunity in a person to that microorganism.
Breathing with a whistling or rattling sound in the chest.
People with COPD have a higher risk of developing numerous complications including:
A medical condition where air escapes out of the lungs and into the chest cavity. It causes all or part of a lung to collapse. Also known as a collapsed lung.
Powell, HA. et al. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and risk of lung cancer: the importance of smoking and timing of diagnosis. J Thorac Oncol. 2013 Jan;8(1):6-11. Accessed on 15 June 2015 from
COPD is a major cause of death across the world. There is currently no cure for the condition and there is no way to reverse lung damage that has already occurred. As the disease progresses, the symptoms can get worse and breathing can become more difficult, making it hard to do daily activities.
The best way to prevent developing COPD is to not smoke. The risk of developing COPD may also be reduced by avoiding second-hand smoke and exposure to air pollution and dusty or smoky environments.