emphysema

What is COPD?

COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and is the leading cause of disability and the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, killing 117,000 people annually. COPD is a classification of lung diseases, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, that make breathing extremely difficult. In patients with COPD, the airways of the lungs thicken, close and may also fill with mucus, thus reducing air flow. COPD can lead to weakness, exhaustion, loss of body weight, and heart failure.

Causes of COPD