Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

COPD is the term applied to a group of lung diseases that involve problems with the ability to blow air out of the lungs, as measured by lung function or pulmonary function testing. The major individual diseases included in this group are chronic bronchitis, emphysema and sometimes asthma with permanent damage.

COPD is a major cause of serious illness in the U.S., and more than 15 million Americans are affected. Cigarette smoking accounts for 80-90% of the risk of developing COPD, although other exposures or genetic diseases can also cause COPD. 

What is chronic bronchitis?

Emphysema is the damage of the lung tissue – in particular, the air sacs that are essential for getting oxygen into the body and carbon dioxide out of the body. Emphysema is diagnosed by taking pictures of the chest using X-ray or computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan.

How do I know if I have COPD?

Patients may experience cough and/or sputum production (often just in the morning) that begins gradually and then persists. Other symptoms include wheezing, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath. Patients may also experience more frequent chest infections (colds, bronchitis, pneumonia) than usual, or may take longer to recover from them.

If these symptoms are present, a doctor must do breathing tests called pulmonary function tests (PFTs) to make the diagnosis of COPD. A chest x-ray should also be done to make sure other problems aren’t contributing.

What can I do if I have COPD?

The most important thing you can do if you have COPD is to quit smoking. Studies have shown that patients who are able to quit smoking dramatically slow down the loss of lung function. Because quitting smoking can be difficult, ask your doctor for help and don’t be discouraged if you fail your first attempt. Most people require several tries before they can successfully break this habit.