COPD

9. Tuberculosis

Dec 6, 2019 · · COPD
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease that can lie dormant in the lungs for years before becoming active. If active TB is left untreated, it can destroy the lungs—moreover, because TB bacteria infect the alveoli, bacteria also can move into the bloodstream and infect the lymph nodes, bones, joints, kidneys, … Read More

8. Pneumonia

Dec 6, 2019 · · COPD
Pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs caused by bacteria, a virus (such as the flu virus), or another infectious agent. The severity of pneumonia depends on several factors, including which germ is responsible and the strength of the individual’s immune system. When the immune system detects an … Read More

6. Bronchiectasis

Dec 6, 2019 · · COPD
Bronchiectasis is a chronic obstructive airway disease in which the bronchi become damaged and collapse. Bronchial walls contain elastic and muscle fibers, which allow the bronchial tubes to expand and contract while maintaining their shape. In people with bronchiectasis, the elastic and muscular components in the walls of medium-sized bronchi … Read More

5. Asthma

Dec 6, 2019 · · COPD
Asthma is a chronic disease that normally starts in childhood. It can, however, occur for the first time in adulthood. It affects about 19 million adults and 7.7 million children in the United States (see “Latest Asthma Statistics”). Asthma causes inflammation in the airways, which results in episodes of coughing, … Read More

4. Treating COPD

Dec 6, 2019 · · COPD
Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cannot be cured—the damage it causes to the lungs is irreversible—the disease can be treated. Treatment is aimed at reducing symptoms, improving the ability to exercise, preventing and treating complications and exacerbations, and slowing disease progression. For current smokers with COPD, the first step … Read More

3. Diagnosing COPD

Dec 6, 2019 · · COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) shares many symptoms with asthma. The two conditions also can coexist, making it difficult to distinguish between them. Making an accurate diagnosis of COPD is critical, however, because the condition is treated differently than asthma. The diagnosis of COPD involves a physical examination. Your doctor … Read More

2. What Happens in COPD?

Dec 6, 2019 · · COPD
Until recently, the term “chronic obstructive pulmonary disease” (COPD) was used to describe two conditions—emphysema and chronic bronchitis—that make it difficult to breathe in and out. In 2017, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stopped using the terms chronic bronchitis and emphysema for several reasons: The characteristics … Read More

1. A Look Inside Your Lungs

Dec 6, 2019 · · COPD
The primary job of your lungs is to take in oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide. Oxygen that goes into the lungs moves into the bloodstream and travels throughout the body to every cell. Carbon dioxide, a gaseous waste product of bodily processes, makes the opposite journey, moving from … Read More

From The Medical Editor

Dec 6, 2019 · · COPD
Most of us take breathing for granted, until we have trouble performing this basic function necessary for life. Millions of people worldwide develop diseases that make breathing increasingly difficult. In some cases—and particularly for those with chronic obstructive lung diseases—it’s a stressful, permanent situation. In this report, we discuss the … Read More

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