What is COPD?

COPD has many names. If your disease has been described in any of the following names, the information in this section is relevant to you:

• Emphysema
• Chronic bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive bronchitis
• Chronic airflow limitation
• Chronic airflow obstruction
• Chronic airways obstruction
• Chronic obstructive airways diseases
• Chronic obstructive lung diseases
• Non-reversible obstructive airways disease

The most common symptoms of COPD are breathlessness, an increased effort to breathe, heaviness or a ‘need for air’, excessive mucus, and a chronic cough. Some people feel they are gasping for breath. These symptoms will get worse when exercising, when you have a respiratory infection or during an exacerbation – periods of time when there is a sudden increase in symptoms and the disease is worse.

COPD affects your ability to breathe. It is a progressive disease, which means that COPD gets worse over time and may lead to death. This means that, over time, the ability to breathe is affected, and because of this, daily activities may become more difficult as the disease worsens.

COPD is known by many alternative names, including: emphysema, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive bronchitis, chronic airflow limitation, chronic airflow obstruction, chronic airways obstruction, chronic obstructive airways disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, non-reversible obstructive airways disease.

COPD affects the several different parts of the respiratory system, that is the airways and lungs.

COPD a complex, progressive, debilitating and possibly life-threatening disease. It is described as a multi-component disease because it results in changes in several different parts of the respiratory system at the same time. If you have COPD you may recognise some of these symptoms. Not everyone has all of these symptoms, and some people have different combinations of symptoms to other people. Click here for a detailed list of symptoms.