Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic, often progressive lung condition in which the main characteristics include inflammation and airway obstruction, particularly during the exhalation or the expiratory phase of breathing.

When we talk about COPD, we are generally referring to two main conditions, Chronic Bronchitis, which is disease of the large airways (bronchi), and Emphysema, which is disease of the small airways and alveoli, the tiny air sacs where gas exchange occurs.

The most common symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, reduced oxygenation, frequent respiratory infections, and chronic cough.

People with chronic bronchitis tend to have an increase in mucus and a more productive cough, whereas people with emphysema tend to have less secretions and a dry cough.

Most people have some combination of both but in general, if you have either Chronic Bronchitis or Emphysema, you have COPD.

COPD is often caused by long-term exposure to irritants including cigarette smoke but can also result from environmental pollutants or genetic factors, and many people develop COPD despite having never smoked.

Diagnosis is usually made based upon clinical evaluation, pulmonary function tests, and imaging studies including chest x-rays (CXR) and C-T Scans.

Other obstructive pulmonary diseases include Asthma, Bronchiectasis, and Cystic Fibrosis, among others.