Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD)
COPD is a term that refers to a large group of lung diseases which can interfere with normal breathing. It is estimated that nearly 12.1 million Americans have COPD, but many more have impaired lung function, suggesting it may be significantly under-reported. As many as 24 million people may be affected. The two most common conditions of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
The causes of COPD are not fully understood. It is generally agreed that the most important cause of chronic bronchitis and emphysema is cigarette smoking. Causes such as air pollution and occupational exposures may play a role, especially when combined with cigarette smoking. Heredity also plays a contributing role in some patients' emphysema, and is especially important in a rare form - due to alpha 1 anti-trypsin deficiency.
There are several types of lung diseases or chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) that require clinical care by a physician or other healthcare professional.