Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: (COPD) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable lung disease. People with COPD must work harder to breathe, which can lead to shortness of breath and/or feeling tired. Early in the disease, people with COPD may feel short of breath when they exercise. Chronic obstructive lung disease is a lung disease characterized by lung airflow limitation and can be from exposure to harmful substances. It is a common cause of death worldwide. To avoid the high morbidity and mortality associated with this condition, it must be diagnosed and treated promptly. Diagnosis Often COPD can be hard to diagnose because symptoms can be the same as those of other lung conditions. Many people who have COPD may not be diagnosed until the disease is advanced. To diagnose your condition, your healthcare professional reviews your symptoms and asks about your family and medical history and any exposure you've had to lung irritants — especially cigarette smoke. Your healthcare professional does a physical exam that includes listening to your lungs. You also may ... Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is estimated to affect 32 million persons in the United States and is the third leading cause of death in this country. Patients typically have symptoms of chronic bronchitis and emphysema, but the classic triad also includes asthma (see the image below).