Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of progressive lung diseases that obstruct airflow. You may experience breathing difficulties, but you can treat and even prevent flare-ups.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of progressive lung diseases that affect airflow.

The most common and noticeable symptoms involve breathlessness, with symptoms developing slowly.

While there isn’t a cure for COPD, you can manage the condition and prevent it from materializing into severe symptoms. Managing COPD can also help reduce your risk for other conditions, including lung cancer and heart disease.

The World Health Organization reports that COPD is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide and accounts for roughly 5% of deaths globally.

In the United States, about 4.3% of adults as of 2023 had ever received a diagnosis of COPD, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis.

You can get COPD at any age, but it is more likely in middle-aged and older adults.

Both emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the most common types of COPD.

  • Chronic bronchitis: This is an inflammation of the bronchi, the air pathways to the lungs.
  • Emphysema: Emphysema causes damage to the alveoli, which are the air sacs in your lungs. The walls of the damaged air sacs become stretched out and your lungs actually get bigger, making it harder to move your air in and out.

Smoking and household air pollution are risk factors, both worldwide and in the United States.

You may also be at risk for COPD due to heavy or long-term contact with secondhand smoke or other lung irritants in the home, such as organic cooking fuel.

COPD can also develop if you’ve had long-term exposure and contact with harmful pollutants in the workplace. Some of these harmful lung irritants include certain chemicals, dust, or fumes.

You can take these steps to prevent COPD, or if you’re already living with the condition, help keep it from getting worse.

Early symptoms of COPD may not be as noticeable and may include shortness of breath or tiring easily.

As COPD progresses, you may experience swelling in the legs and feet. Low oxygen levels in your bloodstream may result in gray or blue discoloration of your lips and fingernails. You may also experience increased weight loss.

Common signs and symptoms include:

  • constant coughing, sometimes referred to as a “smoker’s cough”
  • shortness of breath while doing everyday activities
  • an inability to breathe easily or take a deep breath
  • excess mucus production coughed up as sputum
  • wheezing
  • blueness of the lips or fingernail beds
  • frequent respiratory infections
  • lack of energy

You may not immediately notice COPD symptoms.

This is why it’s important to consult a healthcare professional about concerns or medical history that may put you more at risk for the condition. They can perform a noninvasive spirometry test, which measures how well your lungs are working.

You may have one of these tests if any of the following apply:

  • you’re a current or former smoker
  • have been exposed to harmful lung
    irritants for a long period of time
  • have a history of COPD in your family

Treatment can often successfully manage symptoms of COPD, but it’s a serious condition.

Current treatments for COPD cannot repair the damage to your lungs, but some treatments may reduce your risk of flare-ups. This makes it easier for you to breathe and feel better.

Your treatment goals for COPD may include:

  • relieving your symptoms
  • slowing the progress of the disease
  • improving your exercise tolerance or your ability to stay active
  • preventing and treating complications
  • improving your overall health

Learn more about therapy, surgery, and lifestyle measures you can discuss with your healthcare professional for managing COPD.

The most essential step in any treatment plan for COPD is to stop smoking. Quitting smoking isn’t easy, but nicotine replacement products and medications might help.

Other treatment options include bronchodilators, which relax the muscles around the airways, and pulmonary rehabilitation, a broad program that helps improve the well-being of people who have chronic breathing problems.

If you have COPD, you’re more vulnerable to the common cold, influenza, and pneumonia. COPD also increases your risk of developing pulmonary hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the arteries that serve the lungs.

Other COPD complications may include:

  • respiratory infections
  • heart problems
  • lung cancer
  • high blood pressure in the lung arteries
  • depression

COPD is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Respiratory issues are the most common cause of death in people with COPD, followed by cardiac issues and cancer.

The more you can do to keep from progressing to a higher stage of COPD, the better.

The best way to slow the progression of the disease is to stop smoking if you smoke. Also, avoid secondhand smoke or other irritants such as air pollution, dust, or chemicals.

Breathing can be more difficult if you live with COPD, a group of progressive lung diseases that restrict airflow. Although there isn’t a cure, you can manage COPD symptoms and also take steps to prevent it from getting worse. That might include medication, not smoking, and making other lifestyle changes.

This can also help reduce your risk for other conditions, including heart disease and lung cancer.

Make sure to keep regular appointments with your healthcare team to discuss your COPD, any medications you may take or want to know about, and other steps that can help you manage COPD.