Science Questions

What is COPD? Ian

COPD is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. This is the inflammation and accumulation of excess mucus within the airways, which makes them narrow and difficult to breathe. Once you have it, it tends to keep coming back, and it gets worse as time goes on. That's the proper text book definition, but it actually exists in a spectrum. Some people have very mild COPD, while some people have very sever COPD. It's generally associated with smoking.

December 2005