What is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive long‐term lung disease that involves inflammation and thickening of the airways.Over time the disease makes it more difficult to breathe because the airways are obstructed, restricting the flow of air in and out of the lungs.
When this happens less oxygen reaches the blood, and it becomes harder to get rid of the waste gas carbon dioxide.
COPD is made up of two chronic conditions: chronic bronchitis which is a persistent cough with mucus, and emphysema which is characterised by the destruction of lung tissue.