Copd Definition Medical
There are two main forms of copd.
Copd definition medical. Copd is currently an incurable disease but with the right diagnosis and treatment there are many things you can do to breathe better and enjoy life and live for many years. Many people who have copd may not be diagnosed until the disease is advanced. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease copd is a lung disease characterized by chronic obstruction of lung airflow that interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible. Symptoms include breathing difficulty cough mucus sputum production and wheezing.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease commonly referred to as copd is a group of progressive lung diseases. Copd is commonly misdiagnosed. Copd is frequently related to cigarette smoking and mainly involves two related diseases chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The obstruction is generally permanent and progresses becomes worse over time.
Copd also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a chronic lung condition in which the alveoli air sacs in your lungs no longer work properly making it difficult to breathe. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease pulmonology an umbrella term for a group of usually progressive lung disorders with overlapping signs and symptoms including asthma bronchiectasis chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease copd is a term used to describe chronic lung diseases including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease copd is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. The poor airflow is the result of breakdown of lung tissue known as emphysema and small airways disease known as obstructive bronchiolitis. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease copd is a common lung disease. It s typically caused by long term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter most often from cigarette smoke.
This disease is characterized by breathlessness. Copd usually associated with a long hx of cigarette smoking is the 5 th most common cod 65 000 deaths yr us the 3 rd most common after heart diseases and schizophrenia cause of chronic disability of older individuals and the most common cause of pulmonary htn. Copd is not simply a smoker s cough but an under diagnosed life threatening lung disease. To diagnose your condition your doctor will review your signs and symptoms discuss your family and medical history and discuss any exposure you ve had to lung irritants especially cigarette smoke.
The more familiar terms chronic bronchitis and emphysema are no longer used but are now included within the copd diagnosis. Chronic bronchitis which involves a long term cough with mucus. Copd is a type of obstructive lung disease in which chronic incompletely reversible poor airflow airflow limitation and inability to breathe out fully air trapping exist. Both are frequently present and cause chronic obstruction of airflow obstruction of the lungs.
Many people with copd have both.