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Print: What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (also called COPD) is a chronic lung disease that includes two main illnesses: chronic bronchitis and emphysema (say: "em-fa-see-ma"). There is no cure for COPD.
Your lungs have 2 main parts: bronchial tubes (also called airways) and alveoli (also called air sacs). When you breathe, the air moves down your trachea (or wind pipe) through your bronchial tubes and into your alveoli. From the alveoli, oxygen goes into your blood while carbon dioxide moves out of your blood.
If you have chronic bronchitis, the lining in your bronchial tubes gets red, swollen and full of mucus. This mucus blocks your tubes and makes it hard to breathe.
If you have emphysema, your alveoli are irritated. They get stiff and can't hold enough air. This makes it hard for you to get oxygen into and carbon dioxide out of your blood.
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Source
COPD: Management of Acute Exacerbations and Chronic Stable Disease by MH Hunter, MD; DE King, MD (American Family Physician August 15, 2001, http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010815/603.html)
Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff
Reviewed/Updated: 07/10
Created: 08/01
