What is COPD?

COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease:

  • Chronic means long-term — people live with COPD for many years
  • Obstructive means decreased airflow in and out of the lungs
  • Pulmonary refers to your lungs — it includes all the tubes that take in air through your mouth and nose and into your lungs
  • Disease means illness

Shortcuts for this page: The signs and symptoms of COPD How COPD Progresses

COPD is a serious lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. These two conditions make it difficult to breathe:

Chronic Bronchitis

Narrowed airways limit airflow in and out of your lungs.

Emphysema

Damaged air sacs trap air inside your lungs.

The signs and symptoms of COPD

Do you:

  • Feel out of breath climbing stairs or riding a bike?
  • Have a "smoker's cough" or cough nearly every day?
  • Have a lot of mucus (phlegm)?
  • Hear a wheezing or whistling sound when you breathe?
  • Have trouble keeping up with physical activities?
  • Get lung infections or bad colds more than once a year?

If you are 40+ years old with a history of smoking, and have any of these symptoms and they don't go away, talk to your doctor.

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How COPD progresses

COPD is progressive. This means it gets worse over time. At first, some people think their breathing problems are just part of getting older. Or they think they are getting "out of shape." But these symptoms may actually be a sign of something much more serious.

COPD gradually worsens. It progresses from mild to moderate, and then severe. COPD can't be cured, but it can be treated at any stage. It is important to talk to your doctor about ways to manage your COPD.

If you have mild COPD, you may:

  • Feel a little short of breath after you work hard or do high-energy activities (like biking or climbing stairs)
  • Cough a lot and sometimes cough up mucus (phlegm)

If you have moderate COPD, you may:

  • Feel short of breath when you walk up a hill
  • Have trouble doing chores like taking out the garbage
  • Cough a lot and sometimes cough up mucus (phlegm)
  • Need a few weeks to get better from a lung infection like a bad cold
  • Cut back on activities you enjoy

If you have severe or very severe COPD, you may:

  • Get short of breath during low-energy activities like showering or getting dressed
  • Not be able to work or take part in simple activities you enjoy
  • Cough a lot and sometimes cough up mucus (phlegm)
  • Need a few weeks to get better from a lung infection like a bad cold
  • Have trouble breathing day and night

People with severe or very severe COPD often need oxygen therapy.

COPD can't be cured, but it can be treated at any stage. Your doctor is your best source for treatment information. With the right treatment and lifestyle changes, you may improve your breathing today and every day.

So talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor about your symptoms, activity level, and smoking history. Your doctor may use a simple breathing test called spirometry. Based on all this information, your doctor will tell you if you have COPD, and how to best treat it.

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