Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a disease that makes it difficult for air to move into and out of your lungs. It causes the airways of the lungs to be inflamed and become ‘obstructed’ or blocked. Drawing a breath can be a difficult frightening struggle.
COPD includes bronchitis and emphysema.
- Bronchitis means the airways are inflamed and narrowed and often produce excess sputum.
- Emphysema affects the air sacs at the end of the airways, causing them to lose function and trap air.
Both these conditions make it harder to move the air in and out of your lungs as you breathe, causing a lack of oxygen in the lungs.
COPD is caused by cigarette smoking, occupational exposure to dusts, and possibly outdoor air pollution.