Health Information Library

Overview

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an ongoing lung condition caused by damage to the lungs. The damage results in swelling and irritation, also called inflammation, inside the airways that limit airflow into and out of the lungs. This limited airflow is known as obstruction. Symptoms include trouble breathing, a daily cough that brings up mucus and a tight, whistling sound in the lungs called wheezing.

COPD is most often caused by long-term exposure to irritating smoke, fumes, dust or chemicals. The most common cause is cigarette smoke.

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common types of COPD. These two conditions usually occur together and can vary in severity among people with COPD.

Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the lining of the tubes that bring air into the lungs. These tubes are called bronchi. The inflammation prevents good airflow into and out of the lungs and makes extra mucus. In emphysema, the small air sacs of the lungs, called alveoli, are damaged. The damaged alveoli can't pass enough oxygen into the bloodstream.

Although COPD is a condition that can get worse over time, COPD is treatable. With proper management, most people with COPD can control symptoms and improve their quality of life. Proper management also can lower the risk of other conditions linked to COPD, such as heart disease and lung cancer.

Symptoms

COPD symptoms often don't appear until a lot of lung damage has occurred. Symptoms usually worsen over time, especially if smoking or other irritating exposure continues.

Symptoms of COPD may include:

• Trouble catching your breath, especially during physical activities.
• Wheezing or whistling sounds when breathing.
• Ongoing cough that may bring up a lot of mucus. The mucus may be clear, white, yellow or greenish.
• Chest tightness or heaviness.
• Lack of energy or feeling very tired.
• Frequent lung infections.
• Losing weight without meaning to. This may happen as the condition worsens.
• Swelling in ankles, feet or legs.

People with COPD also are likely to have times when their symptoms become worse than the usual day-to-day variation. This time of worsening symptoms is called an exacerbation (eg-zas-er-bay-shun). Exacerbations can last for several days to weeks. They can be caused by triggers such as smells, cold air, air pollution, colds or infections. Symptoms may include:

• Working harder than usual to breathe or having trouble breathing.
• Chest tightness.
• Coughing more often.
• More mucus or changes in mucus color or thickness.
• Fever.

When to see a doctor

Talk with your doctor or other healthcare professional if your symptoms don't get better with treatment or if symptoms get worse. Also talk with your healthcare professional if you notice symptoms of an infection, such as fever or a change in the mucus you cough up.

In the U.S., call 911 or your local emergency number for help or go to the emergency department at a hospital right away if you can't catch your breath, your lips or fingernail beds are blue, you have a fast heartbeat, or you feel foggy and have trouble concentrating.

Causes

The main cause of COPD in developed countries is tobacco smoking. In the developing world, COPD often occurs in people exposed to fumes from burning fuel for cooking and heating in homes that don't have good airflow. Long-term exposure to chemical fumes, vapors and dusts in the workplace is another cause of COPD.

Not all people who have smoked for a long time have COPD symptoms, but they may still have lung damage, so their lungs don't work as well as they used to. Some people who smoke get less common lung conditions that may be diagnosed as COPD until a more thorough exam shows a different diagnosis.

How the lungs are affected

Air travels down the windpipe called the trachea and into the lungs through two large tubes called bronchi. Inside the lungs, these tubes divide many times like the branches of a tree. Many smaller tubes called bronchioles end in clusters of tiny air sacs called alveoli.

The alveoli have very thin walls full of tiny blood vessels. The oxygen in the air breathed in passes into these blood vessels and goes into the bloodstream. At the same time, carbon dioxide, a gas that is a waste product from the body, passes into the alveoli and is breathed out.

When breathing out, the natural stretchiness of the alveoli forces old air out, allowing new air to get in. This stretchiness is also called elasticity.

Causes of airway obstruction

Long-term exposure to irritants, such as from smoking, injures the lungs. This damage keeps air from moving in and out of the lungs freely, limiting their ability to provide oxygen to the bloodstream and take away carbon dioxide. The two main conditions that prevent effective airflow in the lungs are:

• Emphysema. This lung condition causes destruction of the fragile walls and elastic fibers of the alveoli. The damaged inner walls of the alveoli may be destroyed, creating one large air space that is hard to empty compared with the many healthy small ones. The alveoli now have less surface area that can be used to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. Also, old air gets trapped in the large alveoli so there isn't room for enough new air to get in.
• Chronic bronchitis. In this condition, the bronchial tubes become inflamed and narrowed. As a result, the tubes thicken, making less room for air to pass through. Extra mucus caused by the irritation blocks the narrowed tubes even more. An ongoing cough results from trying to clear mucus from the airways.

Cigarette smoke and other irritants

In the vast majority of people with COPD in the United States, the lung damage that leads to COPD is caused by long-term cigarette smoking. But there are likely other factors at play in developing COPD because not everyone who smokes gets COPD. One such factor may be gene changes that make some people more likely to develop the condition.

Other irritants can cause COPD, including cigar smoke, secondhand smoke, pipe smoke, air pollution, and workplace exposure to dust, smoke or fumes.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency

In about 1% of people with COPD, the condition results from a gene change passed down in families. This is a genetic form of emphysema. This gene lessens the levels of a protein called alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) in the body. AAT is made in the liver and released into the bloodstream to help protect the lungs from damage caused by smoke, fumes and dust.

Low levels of this protein, a condition called alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, can cause liver damage, lung conditions such as COPD or both. With AAT deficiency, there is usually a family history of COPD, and symptoms begin at a younger age.

Risk factors

Risk factors for COPD include:

• Tobacco smoke. The biggest risk factor for COPD is long-term cigarette smoking. The more years you smoke and the more packs you smoke, the greater your risk. Pipe, cigar and marijuana smoking also may raise your risk. People who breathe in large amounts of secondhand smoke are at risk of COPD too.
• Asthma. Asthma is a condition in which the airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus. Asthma may be a risk factor for developing COPD. The mix of asthma and smoking raises the risk of COPD even more.
• Workplace exposure. Long-term exposure to chemical fumes, smoke, vapors and dusts in the workplace can irritate and cause swelling in the lungs. This can raise the risk of COPD.
• Fumes from burning fuel. In the developing world, people exposed to fumes from burning fuel for cooking and heating in homes with poor airflow are at higher risk of COPD.
• Genetics. AAT deficiency caused by a gene change passed down in families is the cause of COPD in some people. This genetic form of emphysema is not common. Other genetic factors may make certain people who smoke more likely to get COPD.

Complications

COPD can cause many complications, including:

• Respiratory infections. People with COPD are more likely to have colds, the flu and pneumonia. Any respiratory infection can make it much harder to breathe and could cause more damage to lung tissue.
• Heart problems. For reasons that aren't fully understood, COPD can raise the risk of heart disease, including heart attack.
• Lung cancer. People with COPD have a higher risk of getting lung cancer.
• High blood pressure in lung arteries. COPD may cause high blood pressure in the arteries that bring blood to the lungs. This condition is called pulmonary hypertension.
• Anxiety and depression. Difficulty breathing can keep you from doing activities that you enjoy. And having a serious medical condition such as COPD can sometimes cause anxiety and depression.

Prevention

Unlike some other medical conditions, COPD often has a clear cause and a clear way to prevent it. Most of the time, COPD is directly linked to cigarette smoking. The best way to prevent COPD is to never smoke. If you smoke and have COPD, stopping now can slow how fast the condition worsens.

If you've smoked for a long time, quitting can be hard, especially if you've tried quitting once, twice or many times before. But keep trying to quit. It's critical to find a stop-smoking program that can help you quit for good. It's your best chance for lessening damage to your lungs. Talk with your healthcare professional about options that might work best for you.

Workplace exposure to chemical fumes, vapors and dusts is another risk factor for COPD. If you work with these types of lung irritants, talk with your supervisor about the best ways to protect yourself. This may include wearing equipment that prevents you from breathing in these substances.

Here are some steps you can take to help prevent complications linked with COPD:

• Quit smoking to help lower your risk of heart disease and lung cancer.
• Get an annual flu vaccination and vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia to lower your risk of or prevent some infections. Also talk with your doctor or other healthcare professional about when you need the COVID-19 vaccine and the RSV vaccine.
• Talk with your healthcare professional or a mental health professional if you feel sad or hopeless or think that you may have depression.

Diagnosis

Often COPD can be hard to diagnose because symptoms can be the same as those of other lung conditions. Many people who have COPD may not be diagnosed until the disease is advanced.

To diagnose your condition, your healthcare professional reviews your symptoms and asks about your family and medical history and any exposure you've had to lung irritants — especially cigarette smoke. Your healthcare professional does a physical exam that includes listening to your lungs. You also may have some of these tests to diagnose your condition: pulmonary function tests, lab tests and imaging.

Pulmonary function tests

Pulmonary function tests are done to find out how well your lungs are working. These tests may include:

• Spirometry. In this test, you breathe out quickly and forcefully through a tube connected to a machine. The machine measures how much air the lungs can hold and how quickly air moves in and out of the lungs. Spirometry diagnoses COPD and tells how much airflow is limited.
• Lung volume test. This test measures the amount of air the lungs hold at different times when breathing in and out.
• Lung diffusion test. This test shows how well the body moves oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the blood.
• Pulse oximetry. This simple test uses a small device placed on one of your fingers to measure how much oxygen is in your blood. The percentage of oxygen in the blood is called oxygen saturation. You also may have a six-minute walking test with a check of your oxygen saturation.
• Exercise stress test. An exercise test on a treadmill or stationary bike may be used to monitor heart and lung function during activity.

Imaging

• Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray may show some lung changes from COPD. An X-ray also can rule out other lung problems or heart failure.
• CT scan. A CT scan combines X-ray images taken from different angles to create images of structures inside the body. A CT scan gives much greater detail of changes in your lungs than a chest X-ray does. A CT scan of your lungs can show emphysema and chronic bronchitis. A CT scan also can help tell if you might benefit from surgery for COPD. CT scans can be used to check for lung cancer.

Pulmonary function and imaging tests also can be used to check your condition over time and see how treatments are working.

Lab tests

• Arterial blood gas analysis. This blood test measures how well your lungs are bringing oxygen into your blood and removing carbon dioxide.
• Testing for AAT deficiency. Blood tests can tell if you have the genetic condition called alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.
• Blood tests. Blood tests aren't used to diagnose COPD, but they may be used to find the cause of your symptoms or rule out other conditions.

Treatment

Treatment is based on how severe your symptoms are and whether you often have bouts when symptoms get worse. These bouts are called exacerbations. Effective therapy can control symptoms, slow how fast the condition worsens, lower the risk of complications and improve your ability to lead an active life.

Quitting smoking

The most essential step in any treatment plan for COPD is to quit all smoking. Stopping smoking can keep COPD from getting worse and making it harder to breathe. But quitting smoking isn't easy, especially if you've tried to quit and haven't been successful.

Talk with your healthcare professional about stop-smoking programs, nicotine replacement products and medicines that might help. Also talk about how to handle relapses. Your healthcare professional may recommend a support group for people who want to quit smoking. Also, stay away from secondhand smoke whenever possible.

Medicines

Several kinds of medicines are used to treat the symptoms and complications of COPD. You may take some medicines on a regular basis and others as needed.

Most medicines for COPD are given using an inhaler. This small hand-held device delivers the medicine straight to your lungs when you breathe in the fine mist or powder. Talk with your healthcare professional so that you know the right way to use the inhaler prescribed.

Medicine also can be given using a nebulizer. This small machine has a mask or mouthpiece and a hose attached to a round cup for liquid medicine. The nebulizer changes liquid medicine into a mist so it can be breathed into the lungs. Nebulizers also help loosen mucus. You may have one of these types of nebulizers:

• Compressor or jet nebulizers force air through the medicine to create mist.
• Ultrasonic nebulizers use high-frequency vibrations to create mist.
• Mesh or membrane nebulizers push the medicine through a mesh cap with tiny holes to create mist.

Bronchodilators

Bronchodilators are medicines that usually come in inhalers. Bronchodilators relax the muscles around the airways. This can help relieve coughing and make breathing easier. Depending on how severe your COPD is, you may need a short-acting bronchodilator before activities, a long-acting bronchodilator that you use every day or both.

Examples of short-acting bronchodilators include:

• Albuterol (ProAir, Ventolin, Proventil).
• Ipratropium (Atrovent).
• Levalbuterol (Xopenex).

An example of a short-acting bronchodilator combination inhaler is ipratropium bromide-albuterol (Combivent Respimat).

Inhaled steroids

Inhaled corticosteroids, often simply called steroids, can lessen airway inflammation and help prevent bouts when COPD symptoms get worse. Side effects of inhaled steroids may include bruising, mouth infections and hoarseness. These medicines are useful if you often have times when COPD symptoms get worse.

Combination inhalers

Some combination inhalers include more than one type of bronchodilator. Examples of these include:

• Aclidinium bromide-formoterol fumarate (Duaklir Pressair).
• Glycopyrrolate-formoterol fumarate (Bevespi Aerosphere).
• Tiotropium bromide-olodaterol (Stiolto Respimat).
• Umeclidinium-vilanterol (Anoro Ellipta).

Other inhalers combine bronchodilators and inhaled steroids. Examples include:

• Budesonide-glycopyrrolate-formoterol fumarate (Breztri Aerosphere).
• Fluticasone-vilanterol (Breo Ellipta).
• Fluticasone furoate-umeclidinium-vilanterol (Trelegy Ellipta).
• Budesonide-formoterol (Breyna, Symbicort).
• Fluticasone propionate-salmeterol (Advair, AirDuo RespiClick, Wixela Inhub).

Oral steroids

For times when COPD symptoms get worse, short courses of oral corticosteroids — for example, 3 to 5 days — may prevent more worsening of COPD. Oral corticosteroids are medicines taken by mouth. Long-term use of these oral medicines can have serious side effects, such as weight gain, diabetes, osteoporosis, cataracts and higher risk of infection.

Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors

A medicine approved for severe COPD and symptoms of chronic bronchitis is roflumilast (Daliresp), a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor. This medicine lessens airway inflammation and relaxes the airways. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea and weight loss. Roflumilast is used to prevent exacerbations and lessen how often they happen.

Theophylline

When other treatment has not been effective or if cost is a factor, theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron), a less expensive medicine, may help make breathing easier and prevent bouts when symptoms get worse. Side effects depend on the dose and may include nausea and trouble sleeping. Blood tests are commonly used to monitor blood levels of theophylline. Irregular heartbeats and seizures are possible if the blood level is too high.

Antibiotics

Respiratory infections, such as acute bronchitis, pneumonia and influenza, can make COPD symptoms worse. Antibiotics may help treat these bouts of worsening COPD symptoms, but they aren't generally recommended to prevent infections. Some studies show that certain antibiotics, such as azithromycin (Zithromax), help prevent COPD exacerbations. But side effects and antibiotic resistance may limit their use.

Therapies

Oxygen therapy, a pulmonary rehabilitation program and in-home noninvasive ventilation therapy can all help treat COPD.

Oxygen therapy

If there isn't enough oxygen in your blood, you may need supplemental oxygen. You can get this extra oxygen to your lungs through a mask or through plastic tubing with tips that fit into your nose. These attach to an oxygen tank. Lightweight, portable units that you can take with you can help you be more mobile.

Some people with COPD use oxygen only during activities or while sleeping. Others use oxygen all the time. Oxygen therapy can improve quality of life and extend life. Talk with your healthcare professional about your needs and oxygen therapy options.

Pulmonary rehabilitation program

These programs usually combine health education, exercise training, breathing techniques, nutrition advice and counseling. You work with a variety of specialists who can tailor your rehabilitation program to meet your needs.

Pulmonary rehabilitation after bouts of worsening symptoms may lessen the likelihood that you'll need to go back into the hospital. Pulmonary rehabilitation also allows you to participate more fully in everyday activities and improves your quality of life. Talk with your healthcare professional about attending a program.

In-home noninvasive ventilation therapy

This therapy may prevent bouts of worsening symptoms for some people with severe COPD. Research is ongoing to determine the best ways to use this therapy at home.

Evidence supports in-hospital use of breathing devices, such as bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP). BiPAP may help certain people with COPD if used at home during the night. A noninvasive ventilation therapy machine attaches to a mask worn over your mouth and nose. BiPAP helps to make breathing easier and may lessen the likelihood of going back into the hospital. It also lowers how much carbon dioxide is left behind in your lungs when you breathe out. Too much carbon dioxide may lead to acute respiratory failure and the need to be in the hospital.

Managing bouts of worsening symptoms

Even with ongoing treatment, you may have times when symptoms become worse for days or weeks. These are called exacerbations, and they may lead to lung failure if you don't receive treatment right away.

Exacerbations may be caused by a respiratory infection, air pollution or other triggers that worsen irritation and inflammation in the lungs. Whatever the cause, it's important to get medical help right away if you notice a cough that seems worse than usual or a change in the mucus you cough up, or you have a harder time breathing.

When exacerbations happen, you may need medicines such as antibiotics, steroids or both; supplemental oxygen; or treatment in the hospital. Once symptoms get better, your healthcare professional can talk with you about ways to prevent bouts of worsening symptoms in the future. You may need to quit smoking; take inhaled steroids, long-acting bronchodilators or other medicines; get your annual flu vaccine; and avoid air pollution whenever possible.

Surgery

Surgery is an option for some people with some forms of severe emphysema that aren't helped enough by medicines alone. Surgical options include:

• Lung volume reduction surgery. In this surgery, the surgeon removes small wedges of damaged lung tissue from the upper lungs. This creates extra space in the chest so the healthier lung tissue that remains can expand and the muscle that helps in breathing, called the diaphragm, can work better. In some people, this surgery can improve quality of life and help them live longer.
• Endoscopic lung volume reduction. Also called endobronchial valve surgery, this is a minimally invasive procedure to treat people with COPD. A tiny one-way endobronchial valve is placed in the lung. Air can leave the damaged part of the lung through the valve, but no new air gets in. This allows the most damaged lobe to shrink so that the healthier part of the lung has more space to expand and function.
• Lung transplant. A lung transplant may be an option for certain people who meet specific criteria. Replacing a lung can make breathing easier and allow a more active lifestyle. But it's major surgery that has significant risks, such as organ rejection. A lung transplant requires taking lifelong medicine that weakens the immune system.
• Bullectomy. Large air spaces called bullae form in the lungs when the inner walls of the alveoli are destroyed. This leaves one large air sac instead of a cluster of many smaller ones. These bullae can become very large and cause breathing problems because old air is trapped and there isn't room for new air to get in. In a bullectomy, the surgeon removes the bullae from the lungs to help improve air flow.

Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency

For adults with COPD related to AAT deficiency, treatment options include those used for people with more-common types of COPD. Some people can be treated by also replacing the missing AAT protein. This may prevent further damage to the lungs.

Lifestyle and home remedies

If you have COPD, you can take steps to feel better and slow the damage to your lungs:

• Control your breathing. Talk with your healthcare professional or respiratory therapist about methods for breathing more efficiently throughout the day. Also talk about positions that make breathing easier; ways to conserve your energy, such as sitting for tasks when possible; and ways to relax when you have trouble catching your breath.
• Clear your airways. With COPD, mucus tends to collect in air passages and can be hard to clear. Removing mucus with controlled coughing, drinking plenty of water and using a humidifier may help.
• Get regular physical activity. It may seem difficult to be active when you have trouble breathing. But regular physical activity and exercise can improve your overall strength and endurance and strengthen the muscles you use to breathe. Talk with your healthcare professional about which activities are best for you.
• Eat healthy foods. Eating healthy foods can help you keep your strength. If you're underweight, your healthcare professional may recommend nutritional supplements. If you're overweight, losing weight can greatly help your breathing, especially during physical activities.
• Avoid smoke and poor-quality air. In addition to quitting smoking, it's important to avoid places where others smoke. Secondhand smoke may add to lung damage. Air pollution also can irritate your lungs, so check daily air quality forecasts before going out. Identify what may trigger bouts of worsening symptoms so you can avoid them as much as possible.
• See your healthcare professional regularly. Keep your appointment schedule, even if you're feeling fine. It's important to regularly monitor your lung function. And be sure to get your annual flu vaccine in the fall to help prevent infections that can worsen your COPD. Ask your healthcare professional about when to get the pneumococcal vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine and RSV vaccine. Call your healthcare professional if your symptoms get worse or you notice symptoms of infection.

Coping and support

Living with COPD can be a challenge — especially when it becomes severe and is harder to catch your breath. You may have to give up some activities you used to enjoy. Your family and friends may find they need to adjust to some of these changes too.

It can help to share your feelings with your family, friends, healthcare professional or mental health professional. You may benefit from counseling or medicine if you feel depressed or overwhelmed. Think about joining a support group for people with COPD.

Preparing for an appointment

If your primary healthcare professional thinks that you have COPD, you'll likely be referred to a doctor who specializes in lung conditions, called a pulmonologist.

What you can do

You might want to take a friend or family member with you to the appointment to help you remember information.

Before your appointment, make a list of:

• Symptoms you're experiencing and when they started. Include anything that makes your symptoms worse or better.
• All medicines, vitamins, herbs and supplements you take. Include the doses.
• Family history, such as whether anyone in your family has COPD.
• Treatment you've had for COPD, if any. Include what the treatment was and if it helped.
• Any other medical conditions you have and their treatments.
• If you smoke or have ever smoked.
• Questions to ask your healthcare professional.

Questions to ask may include:

• What is likely causing my symptoms?
• What kinds of tests do I need?
• What treatment do you recommend?
• I have other health conditions. How will COPD affect them?
• Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?

Feel free to ask other questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare professional may ask you questions, such as:

• How long have you had a cough?
• Do you find it hard to catch your breath, even with little or no activity?
• Have you noticed any wheezing when you breathe?
• Do you now or have you ever smoked cigarettes? If you smoke, would you like help in quitting?

Be ready to answer questions so that you have time to talk about what's most important to you.