COPD is an umbrella term for a range of progressive lung diseases. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema can both result in COPD. A COPD diagnosis means you may have one of these lung-damaging diseases or symptoms of both. COPD can progress gradually, making it harder to breathe over time.
Chronic bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis irritates your bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs. In response, the tubes swell and mucus (phlegm or “snot”) builds up along the lining. The buildup narrows the tube’s opening, making it hard to get air into and out of your lungs.
Small, hair-like structures on the inside of your bronchial tubes (called cilia) normally move mucus out of your airways. But the irritation from chronic bronchitis and/or smoking damages them. The damaged cilia can’t help clear mucus.
Emphysema
Emphysema is the breakdown of the walls of the tiny air sacs (alveoli) at the end of the bronchial tubes, in the “bottom” of your lung. Your lung is like an upside-down tree. The trunk is the windpipe or “trachea,” the branches are the “bronchi,” and the leaves are the air sacs or “alveoli.”
The air sacs play a crucial role in transferring oxygen into your blood and carbon dioxide out. The damage caused by emphysema destroys the walls of the air sacs, making it hard to get a full breath.
What’s the difference between asthma and COPD?
Asthma and COPD are similar in many ways, including similar symptoms like shortness of breath and blocked airflow. However, COPD is chronic and progressive. Asthma is often set off by allergens. COPD’s main cause is smoking.
People with asthma don’t automatically develop COPD. People with COPD don’t always have asthma. However, it’s possible to have both of these respiratory conditions. If you do have both, you need to treat both.
How common is COPD?
Statistics put the number of Americans diagnosed with COPD at about 15 million people in 2020 with another 12 million not yet diagnosed.
Who gets COPD?
The primary, or main, cause of COPD is smoking. But not all smokers develop the disease. You may be at higher risk if you:
- Are someone who was assigned female at birth.
- Are over the age of 65.
- Have been exposed to air pollution.
- Have worked with chemicals, dust or fumes.
- Have alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AAT), a genetic risk factor for COPD.
- Had many respiratory infections during childhood.
What are the signs and symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
- Cough with mucus that persists for long periods of time.
- Difficulty taking a deep breath.
- Shortness of breath with mild exercise (like walking or using the stairs).
- Shortness of breath performing regular daily activities.
- Wheezing.