Key Points

Key Points

  • Smoking is the most common cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • COPD is a disease that slowly worsens over time, especially if you continue to smoke.
  • Breathing in other kinds of lung irritants, like pollution, dust, or chemicals, over a long period of time may also cause or contribute to COPD. Secondhand smoke and genetic disorders can also play a role in COPD.
  • There is no cure for COPD (which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis), and it is a major cause of illness and death.
  • In COPD, much of the elastic quality of the airways and air sacs in the lung is gone. The airways collapse and obstruct the normal airflow. Airways may also become inflamed and thickened.
  • The signs and symptoms of COPD are different for each person. Common signs are cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness.
  • COPD usually occurs in people who are at least 40 years old. COPD is not contagious.
  • If you have COPD, you are more likely to have lung infections, which can be fatal.
  • Your doctor can use a medical history, physical exam, and breathing tests, such as spirometry, to diagnose—or rule out—COPD even before you have significant symptoms.
  • If the lungs are severely damaged, the heart may be affected. A person with COPD dies when the lungs and heart are unable to function and get oxygen to the body’s organs and tissues, or when a complication such as a severe infection occurs.
  • Treatment for COPD may help prevent complications, prolong life, and improve a person’s quality of life. Quitting smoking, staying away from people who are smoking, and avoiding exposure to other lung irritants are the most important ways to reduce your risk of developing COPD or to slow the progress of the disease.
  • Treatment may include medicines such as bronchodilators, steroids, flu shots, and pneumococcal vaccine to avoid or reduce further complications.
  • As the symptoms of COPD get worse over time, a person may have more difficulty with walking and exercising. You should talk to your doctor about exercising and whether you would benefit from a pulmonary rehab program—a coordinated program of exercise, physical therapy, disease management training, advice on diet, and counseling.
  • Oxygen treatment and surgery to remove part of a lung or even to transplant a lung may be recommended for persons with severe COPD.
  • If you have a sudden worsening of signs or symptoms, it is important to contact your doctor and seek emergency treatment.
  • Be prepared and have information on hand that you or others would need in a medical emergency, such as information on medicines you are taking, directions to the hospital or your doctor’s office, and people to contact if you are unable to speak or call them.

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