COPD Definition

What is COPD?

COPD stands for
“Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease”.
The word Chronic means it won’t go away.
The word Obstructive means partly blocked.
The word Pulmonary means in the lungs.
The word Disease means sickness.

COPD is a lung disease. 

Normal lungs
Airways carry air to the lungs. Airways get smaller & smaller like branches of a tree.
At the end of each tiny branch there are many small air sacs – like tiny balloons.
In healthy people, each airway is clear and open. Each tiny air sac fills up with air.
Then the air quickly goes out.

Lungs damaged by COPD
1. The openings of the airways are smaller.
Less air gets in because:
• The walls of the airways get thick and swollen.
• The airways are squeezed by small muscles around them.
• The airways make mucus that you cough up.
2. The tiny air sacs cannot empty and your lungs feel very full.
Your doctor can help you understand the problems you have with your lungs.

 

https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/rccm.202008-3328PP American Journal respiratory Pre COPD