Managing Life with a Chronic Disease

An inflammation of the airways

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have inflammation of the airways , bronchi, and lung tissue in particular. This inflammation leads to a narrowing of the airways, preventing air from passing through . Depending on the stage of the disease, the pulmonary alveoli are eventually destroyed: this is called pulmonary emphysema (or emphysema). Emphysema is, therefore, defined by the destruction of the pulmonary alveoli and disappearance of the gas exchange that normally occurs there, resulting in the reduction of the patient's lung capacity.

According to the World Health Organization , COPD is the third leading cause of death in the world , after ischemic heart disease and stroke.

COPD symptoms

The main symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is shortness of breath (dyspnea) on exertion , followed by chronic coughing and sputum production.
These non-specific COPD symptoms resemble those of chronic bronchitis and are often overlooked, leading to a late diagnosis of the disease . 
Acute episodes of exacerbation and prolonged worsening of symptoms such as shortness of breath (including at rest), increased coughing with or without sputum may occur due to an infection of the lower respiratory tract (lungs) and are more common in the advanced stages of the disease. COPD is sometimes diagnosed during one of these exacerbations. The worsening of the condition can lead to respiratory failure in advanced stages.