Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
>Who Would Use It>Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD is a term used for a number of conditions; including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. COPD leads to damaged airways in the lungs, causing them to become narrower and makes it harder for air to get in and out of the lungs. The word ‘chronic’ means long-standing, and has nothing to do with how bad the disease is, it simply means that that the illness is long-term.
The term COPD covers a group of conditions. You may have been told that you have chronic asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema. These conditions on their own, or in combination are commonly referred to as COPD.
The most common cause of COPD is smoking, due to the inhalation of small particles and dust. Your airways have a lining that produces mucus, which has a number of roles, including keeping the airways moist, and washing away particles that we breathe in. Some patients with COPD produce too much of the mucus, which can become thicker and usually gets coughed up as phlegm.
Chronic bronchitis or emphysema can cause narrowing (obstruction) of the airways. This narrowing of the airways makes it harder to breathe, a subject that your doctor will discuss with you, and make recommendations for your treatment.
Oxygen therapy may help some people with severe symptoms. It is not always a suitable option for all patients, but a specialist will usually complete some breathing tests to assess whether oxygen will help.
Useful Contacts:
British Lung Foundation: www.lunguk.org
NHS Direct: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
General medical information for patients: www.netdoctor.co.uk
COPD International support network: http://www.copd-international.com/
