What is COPD?
Q: What is COPD?
A: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a collection of diseases which make breathing gradually more difficult.
Q: What are the symptoms of COPD?
A: Symptoms of COPD include difficulty breathing and cough, in particular coughing up lots of phlegm.
Q: What causes COPD?
A: COPD is usually caused by smoking cigarettes, and around half of people who smoke for their whole lives will develop it. Air pollution can also be another cause, particularly in countries where indoor fires are used without ventilation.
Q: How does COPD progress over time?
A: At the beginning of the disease, the difficulty breathing is only noticeable when exercising, but over many years it gradually becomes worse until there is difficulty breathing even when sitting or lying down. It can also lead to infections of the lung which may be serious enough to cause death.
Q: How can COPD be treated?
A: The most important step in treating COPD is to stop smoking. Exercise and medications such as bronchodilators can also help open up airways and allow more air into the lungs.
Q: What percentage of disability is related to COPD? A: 3% of all disability is related to COPD.
Q: Can people die from COPD? A: Yes, people can die from COPD. The World Health Organization predicts that it will become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030 and that more people will die from it in the future.
