Overview
COPD is a group of long-term lung diseases that block airflow and make breathing difficult. The two main forms are chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and many people have features of both. COPD can affect daily activities, sleep, exercise, and overall quality of life.
Key Symptoms
Common symptoms include shortness of breath, especially during activity, a long-lasting cough, wheezing, chest tightness, and bringing up mucus. Some people notice frequent chest infections or feel unusually tired. Symptoms often develop gradually and may be mistaken at first for normal aging or being out of shape.
Causes and Risk Factors
The most common cause of COPD is long-term exposure to tobacco smoke, including cigarette smoking. Other causes and risk factors include indoor and outdoor air pollution, exposure to dust, chemicals, or fumes at work, and a rare inherited condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Repeated lung irritation over many years can damage the airways and air sacs in the lungs.
Who Is Affected
COPD is more common in adults, especially people with a history of smoking or long-term exposure to polluted air or workplace irritants. It affects people in many countries and can occur in both men and women. In some places, exposure to smoke from cooking or heating fuels inside the home also raises risk.
Prevention
Not smoking is one of the most important ways to lower the risk of COPD. Avoiding secondhand smoke, reducing exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution, and using protective measures around workplace dust or fumes may also help. Staying up to date with recommended vaccines can help reduce some respiratory infections that may worsen lung problems.
Diagnosis and Tests
A healthcare professional may ask about symptoms, smoking history, work exposures, and past lung infections. COPD is often evaluated with spirometry, a breathing test that measures how much air a person can blow out and how fast. Other tests may be used to look for related problems or other causes of breathing symptoms.
Treatment Categories
Treatment may include inhaled medicines to help open the airways, pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy for some people, and support to stop smoking. Avoiding triggers and treating infections or flare-ups promptly are also important parts of care. In some cases, procedures or surgery may be considered by specialists.
Living With It
Living with COPD often involves learning how to pace activities, manage breathlessness, and recognize when symptoms are changing. Many people benefit from a written action plan made with their healthcare team. Emotional support can also matter, because long-term breathing problems may affect mood, sleep, and confidence.
Diet and Lifestyle
Regular physical activity within a person's limits can help maintain strength and endurance. Eating balanced meals and maintaining a healthy body weight may support energy and breathing effort. Quitting smoking, avoiding smoke and fumes, and following a care plan are important daily steps.
When It May Be an Emergency
Emergency help may be needed if breathing suddenly becomes much harder than usual, lips or face look blue or gray, the person seems confused, or they cannot speak in full sentences because of breathlessness. Severe chest pain, fainting, or signs of a serious infection also need urgent assessment. Do not delay seeking immediate medical care for severe breathing trouble.