What is COPD? How COPD Works | SPIRIVA® HandiHaler® (Tiotropium Bromide Inhalation Powder)

COPD Information

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What is COPD?

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a term used to describe a disease that interferes with normal breathing and gets worse slowly over time. COPD includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Often, people have both.

With chronic bronchitis, your airways become swollen and tight, making it hard for air to move in or out of your lungs. More mucus may form in your airways, making it even more difficult to breathe.

You may notice yourself clearing your throat repeatedly, or you may feel like you have a respiratory infection, except the symptoms do not go away.

With emphysema, the walls of the tiny air sacs in your lungs are damaged, so they can't push all the used air out of your lungs. This air remains trapped, so there's less room for fresh, oxygen-rich air to enter. People do not get enough oxygen and do not remove as much carbon dioxide from their blood. You may notice that you have a hard time exhaling, and that you have limited energy.

What COPD isn't

There are lots of misconceptions about COPD, like the ones below. Don't let them keep you from taking the appropriate steps toward managing it. To learn the real story, click the links below.

"COPD is really just 'smoker's cough.' It will go away when I quit smoking."

What's the real story? >

WHAT'S THE REAL STORY? It's true that smoking is the most common cause of COPD. Quitting smoking is still the best thing you can do to slow the progression of COPD and improve your health. Unfortunately, quitting won't undo the damage that's already been done.

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"COPD isn't serious. My symptoms are not severe, so I don't need daily medicine."

What's the real story? >

WHAT'S THE REAL STORY? Even if your symptoms are not severe, there are still things you can do to keep breathing better — like using a maintenance medicine every day to help keep your airways open. If you wait to start treatment until your symptoms get worse, your COPD may be more difficult to manage.

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"People with COPD can't live normal lives."

What's the real story? >

WHAT'S THE REAL STORY? One of the goals of managing your COPD should be to stay as healthy and active as possible, for as long as possible. A combination of smoking cessation, medication, exercise, and other lifestyle changes can help you do just that.

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COPD can be managed

It's important to understand that while there's currently no cure for COPD, it can be managed. A combination of smoking cessation, medication, exercise, and other lifestyle changes can help manage your COPD. Your primary care doctor will most likely refer you to a pulmonologist, who is a specialist who treats lung and respiratory tract disorders.

It's important to get an accurate diagnosis. The sooner you start managing COPD, the sooner you may start breathing better. It all starts with knowing the symptoms of COPD.

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