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COPD-International is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to provide information and interactive support for COPD patients, caregivers, families and concerned individuals.
NHLBI’s COPD Learn More Breathe Better® Campaign. The campaign is for men and women over age 45, especially those who smoke or have smoked, and those with risk associated with genetics or environmental exposures. In addition, the campaign aims to reach people who have been diagnosed with COPD as well as health care providers, particularly those in the primary care setting.
Episode number: 
COPD (transcript)


What is COPD?

To understand COPD, it helps to understand how the lungs work. The air that you breathe goes down your windpipe into tubes in your lungs called bronchial (BRONG-ke-al) tubes or airways.

Within the lungs, your bronchial tubes branch into thousands of smaller, thinner tubes called bronchioles (BRONG-ke-ols). These tubes end in bunches of tiny round air sacs called alveoli (al-VEE-uhl-eye).

Small blood vessels called capillaries (KAP-ih-lare-ees) run through the walls of the air sacs. When air reaches the air sacs, oxygen passes through the air sac walls into the blood in the capillaries. At the same time, carbon dioxide (a waste gas) moves from the capillaries into the air sacs. This process is called gas exchange.

The airways and air sacs are elastic (stretchy). When you breathe in, each air sac fills up with air like a small balloon. When you breathe out, the air sacs deflate and the air goes out.


  • The airways and air sacs lose their elastic quality.
  • The walls between many of the air sacs are destroyed.
  • The walls of the airways become thick and inflamed.
  • The airways make more mucus than usual, which can clog them.

In the United States, the term "COPD" includes two main conditions—emphysema (em-fih-SE-ma) and chronic bronchitis (bron-KI-tis). (Note: The Health Topics article about bronchitis discusses both acute and chronic bronchitis.)

In emphysema, the walls between many of the air sacs are damaged. As a result, the air sacs lose their shape and become floppy. This damage also can destroy the walls of the air sacs, leading to fewer and larger air sacs instead of many tiny ones. If this happens, the amount of gas exchange in the lungs is reduced.


Most people who have COPD have both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Thus, the general term "COPD" is more accurate.

Outlook of COPD

COPD is a major cause of disability, and it's the third leading cause of death in the United States. Currently, millions of people are diagnosed with COPD. Many more people may have the disease and not even know it.


Most of the time, COPD is diagnosed in middle-aged or older adults. The disease isn't passed from person to person—you can't catch it from someone else.

COPD has no cure yet, and doctors don't know how to reverse the damage to the airways and lungs. However, treatments and lifestyle changes can help you feel better, stay more active, and slow the progress of the disease.

Source: NIH / National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

 Key Point 1

COPD is  chronic obstruction of airflow through the airways.  It is common but often incompletely diagnosed or misdiagnosed.

Key Point 2

Proper treatment of COPD with medication and lifestyle changes can stabilize the disease and make you less symptomatic. 


Medline Plus

Medline Description: 

Conduct an off-site search for COPD from MedlinePlus.  These up-to-date search results are based on search terms specific to Second Opinion Key Points.

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