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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

• More information on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. It is the fourth leading cause of death and causes serious, long-term disability. COPD includes two main illnesses:

• Emphysema (em-fuh-ZEE-muh) – With emphysema, the lung tissues weaken and the walls between the air sacs are damaged, making it hard for the body to get the oxygen it needs.

• Chronic bronchitis (brong-KEYE-tuhss) – Chronic bronchitis is the swelling of the lungs' airways. The swollen airways become narrow and partly clogged with mucus that cannot be cleared.

Cigarette smoking is the main cause of COPD. And many people with COPD have both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Both illnesses also are strongly associated with lung cancer.

COPD develops over time and has no cure. In its earliest stages, people with COPD may not even know they have it. But over time, shortness of breath and other symptoms of COPD can get in the way of even the most basic tasks, such as doing light housework, taking a walk, or even bathing and dressing. Many people with COPD must rely on supplemental oxygen to live a more normal life. Portable units allow people with COPD who need oxygen to take it with them away from the house.

If you have COPD, you can stop or slow the damage to your lungs by quitting smoking. Treatment also can slow down the disease and improve quality of life.

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More information on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Explore other publications and websites

• Age Healthier, Breathe Easier: Solutions You Can Use to Control or Reduce Environmental Triggers — This site provides a list of asthma triggers and explains what you can do to reduce your exposure to each trigger.
  http://www.epa.gov/aging/solutions/index.html
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (Copyright © National Jewish Health) — This website will help you learn the basics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and provide you with information about the strategies used to treat and cope with COPD.
  http://www.nationaljewish.org/healthinfo/conditions/copd/index.aspx
• COPD Learn More Breathe Better Campaign — This website focuses on the risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, underscores the benefits of early detection, and addresses treatments that slow down the disease.
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/copd/lmbb-campaign/index.htm
• Employees With Respiratory Impairments (Copyright © Job Accommodation Network) — This publication for employers offers basic information on how to provide workplace accommodations for employees with respiratory impairments.
  http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/respiratory.html
• Nutritional Guidelines for People With COPD (Copyright © Cleveland Clinic Foundation) — This article provides basic information to help patients with COPD make healthy food choices. Changing eating habits will not cure COPD, but doing so can help people with COPD feel better.
  http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/2400/2411.asp?index=9451

Connect with other organizations

• American Association for Respiratory Care
  http://www.aarc.org/
• American Lung Association
  http://www.lungusa.org/
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/index.htm
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Information Center, NHLBI, NIH, HHS
  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/infoctr/index.htm

Content last updated September 22, 2009.

Resources last updated September 22, 2009.

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