Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overview Lecture

Description

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a
preventable and treatable disease that makes it difficult to
empty air out of the lungs. This difficulty in emptying air
out of the lungs (airflow obstruction) can lead to shortness
of breath or feeling tired because you are working harder
to breathe. COPD is a term that is used to include chronic
bronchitis, emphysema, or a combination of both conditions.
Asthma is also a disease where it is difficult to empty the air
out of the lungs, but asthma is not included in the definition
of COPD. It is not uncommon, however for a patient with
COPD to also have some degree of asthma.