Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease At A Glance

* Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic obstruction of airflow out of the lungs.
* COPD is comprised primarily of two related diseases - chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
* In chronic bronchitis there is inflammation and swelling of the lining of the airways that leads to their narrowing and obstruction.
* In emphysema there is permanent enlargement of the alveoli due to the destruction of the walls between alveoli.
* COPD causes poor gas exchange in the lungs leading to decreased oxygen levels in the blood, increased carbon dioxide levels, and shortness of breath.
* The major cause of COPD is smoking. Other less common causes include air pollution, repeated lung damage from infections, and inherited disease (alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency).
* Treatment consists of cessation of smoking, medications to open the airways and decrease inflammation, prevention of lung infections, oxygen supplementation, and pulmonary rehabilitation.