COPD

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) makes it hard for you to breathe. The two main types are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The main cause of COPD is long-term exposure to substances that irritate and damage the lungs. This is usually cigarette smoke. Air pollution, chemical fumes, or dust can also cause it.

At first, COPD may cause no symptoms or only mild symptoms. As the disease gets worse, symptoms usually become more severe. They include

• A cough that produces a lot of mucus
• Shortness of breath, especially with physical activity
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness

Doctors use lung function tests, imaging tests, and blood tests to diagnose COPD. There is no cure. Treatments may relieve symptoms. They include medicines, oxygen therapy, surgery, or a lung transplant. Quitting smoking is the most important step you can take to treat COPD.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

• Blood gases (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Breathing Better with a COPD Diagnosis – NIH (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) – PDF
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – adults – discharge (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – control drugs (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – quick-relief drugs (Medical Encyclopedia)
• COPD — how to use a nebulizer (Medical Encyclopedia)
• COPD — managing stress and your mood (Medical Encyclopedia)
• COPD and other health problems (Medical Encyclopedia)
• COPD flare-ups (Medical Encyclopedia)
• COPD: Are You at Risk? – NIH (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) – PDF
• Day to day with COPD (Medical Encyclopedia)
• How to breathe when you are short of breath (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pulmonary function tests (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Smoking and COPD (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Using oxygen at home (Medical Encyclopedia)

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