Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
The Basics
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. (following Heart disease, Cancer and Stroke). COPD causes serious, long-term disability.
COPD kills more than 120,000 Americans each year. That’s one death every 4 minutes. More than 12 million people are diagnosed with COPD. An additional 12 million likely have COPD and don’t even know it.
Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are common Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD). COPD makes it hard for you to breathe. Coughing up mucus is often the first sign of COPD.
Your airways branch out inside your lungs like an upside-down tree. At the end of each branch are small, balloon-like air sacs. In healthy people, both the airways and air sacs are springy and elastic. When you breathe in, each air sac fills with air like a small balloon. The balloon deflates when you exhale. In COPD, your airways and air sacs lose their shape and become floppy, like a stretched-out rubber band.
Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of COPD. Breathing in other kinds of irritants, like pollution, dust or chemicals, may also cause or contribute to COPD. Quitting smoking is the best way to avoid developing COPD.
Treatment can make you more comfortable, but there is no cure.