The simple act of breathing is something most people take for granted. But for those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), breathing doesn’t come that easily.

COPD is a chronic lung disease that makes breathing difficult. It is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), there are 12 million Americans who don’t even know they have COPD.

The NHLBI encourages people ages 40 and older, with a history of smoking, long-time exposure to secondhand smoke, or working around environmental hazards, to talk with their doctors about getting a simple breathing test to assess lung function (called a Pulmonary Function Test, or PFT). Early detection is the best way to slow the disease and improve quality of life.

What Is COPD?
COPD refers to two lung diseases: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. With both, there is a gradual loss of lung function. Bronchitis causes the lining of the airways to become swollen or inflamed, producing significant amounts of mucus that make it hard to breath. Emphysema damages the small air sacs in the lungs, making it hard to get oxygen into and carbon dioxide out of your blood.

What Causes COPD?
Most cases of COPD are caused by cigarette smoking. Pipe, cigar, and other types of tobacco smoke—including secondhand smoke—also can cause COPD. Other risk factors include working around and breathing in chemical fumes, heavy exposure to air pollution, and working in a dusty environment.

Because COPD develops slowly, most people are not diagnosed until they are in their 40s or older. When noticeable symptoms do appear, the most common are:

• Shortness of breath
• Frequent coughing
• Difficulty taking a deep breath
• Excess sputum—discharge from the lungs, including mucus or pus—production
• Wheezing

Learn More About COPD
There’s more information, including explanations of COPD tests and procedures, online, click here.