Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also called obstructive airways disease, refers to long-term damage to the airways, causing breathing difficulty.
It consists primarily of chronic bronchitis (long-term inflammation of the airways) and emphysema (damage to the air sacs in the lungs). The most common cause is smoking, although COPD may also result from long-term exposure to harmful dust or fumes, or from an inherited disorder that makes the lungs susceptible to damage.
The main symptoms of COPD include increasing breathlessness, a persistent cough that brings up phlegm, frequent chest infections, and persistent wheezing.
Without treatment, the symptoms gradually worsen. There is no cure for COPD. Stopping smoking is essential to prevent further lung damage from occuring. Other treatments may include medication and tailored physical exercises. Rarely, surgery or a lung transplant may be options

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