Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to obstruction in the lungs caused by chronic asthmatic bronchitis and emphysema that block airflow as you exhale and make it increasingly difficult for you to breathe.  Many people with COPD have both chronic bronchitis and emphysema.  In all cases, damage to your airways eventually interferes with the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your lungs.

This matters because COPD is a leading cause of death and illness worldwide.  Most COPD is caused by long-term smoking and can be prevented by not smoking or quitting soon after you start.  This damage to your lungs can't be reversed, so treatment focuses on controlling symptoms and minimizing further damage

Symptoms of COPD

In general, symptoms of COPD don't appear until significant lung damage has occurred, and they usually worsen over time.  People with COPD are also likely to experience episodes called exacerbations when their symptoms suddenly get much worse.

Signs and symptoms of COPD can vary, but people typically experience:

1. • Shortness of breath
   • Wheezing
   • Chest tightness
   • Chronic cough

Causes of COPD

1.     Chronic asthmatic bronchitis: causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways that lead into your lungs which may cause you to cough and wheeze.  Chronic asthmatic bronchitis also increases mucus production, which can further block the narrowed tubes

2.     Emphysema: damages the tiny air sacs in your lungs (alveoli) in two main ways. (1) Alveoli are clustered like grapes and emphysema gradually destroys the inner walls of these clusters, reducing the amount of surface area available to exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide and (2) Emphysema also makes the alveoli walls weaker and less elastic, so they collapse with exhalation — trapping air in the alveoli.

3.     Cigarette smoke: and other irritants like tobacco smoke, dust, and chemical fumes can also cause COPD.

Risk factors for COPD include several things, but the most significant risk factor for COPD is long-term cigarette smoking; the more years you smoke and the more packs you smoke, the greater your risk.  Occupational exposure to dusts and chemicals, age and genetics can also play a significant role in the development of COPD.

How can I prevent COPD?

The vast majority of cases are directly related to cigarette smoking, and the best way to prevent COPD is to never smoke or to quit smoking.  Occupational exposure to chemical fumes and dust is another risk factor for COPD; if you work with this type of lung irritant, talk to your supervisor about the best ways to protect yourself, such as wearing a mask.