Davidson County
Health Department
HEALTH TO YOU A – Z
INFORMATION SHEET
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, COPD
What is COPD?
When you breathe in or out air travels in your windpipe or your trachea then your bronchial tubes.
Millions of tiny air sacs are at the end of the bronchial tubes. In healthy lungs the air sacs fill up
with air and the air comes and goes quickly. COPD makes air hard to get in and hard to get out of
the lungs. 80%-90% of all COPD cases are caused by cigarette smoking. 20% is caused by
industrial pollutants in the workplace. Other risk factors for COPD are environmental pollution,
secondhand smoke, heredity, and respiratory infections. Chronic irritation from the previous risk
factors cause a loss of elastic quality. Just as you cannot get air into a balloon without the elastic
quality, you cannot get air into the air sacs of the lungs. COPD is a progressive disorder, meaning
it continues to worsen over time. COPD includes two lung problems:
 Chronic Bronchitis – Increased cough with increased mucus or phlegm caused by
inflammation of the airways. See Health To You A – Z Chronic Bronchitis
 Emphysema is damage of the air sacs and or collapse of the smallest breathing tubes in the
lungs. See Health To You A – Z Emphysema
What are the symptoms of it?
 Labored breathing during physical activity or even when resting
 Chronic coughing that produces mucus or phlegm
 Chest pain and soreness
 Shortness of breath, you breathe harder, but still feel like you are running out of air
 Wheezing
 More frequent lung infections like pneumonia
 Weight loss
When should you see your health care provider?
 A person that has been diagnosed with COPD should have a medical provider that he/she
feels comfortable with. A close relationship between a patient with COPD and doctor is
very important. Treatment for COPD can alleviate symptoms, decrease the severity and
frequency of exacerbations or worsening of the condition, and increase exercise tolerance.
 Fever above 100.5 or whatever the medical provider has instructed
 Increased shortness of breath
 Increased coughing with mucus/phlegm. Mucus that changes colors, especially bloody
 Increased fatigue
How is the COPD treated?
 Stopping cigarette smoking and reducing irritants as much as possible
 Increasing fluids to thin the mucus/phlegm
 Medication to reduce coughing and wheezing
 Oxygen therapy as needed
 Pulmonary rehabilitation
PO Box 439, Lexington, NC 27293
(336) 242-2300
www.dchdnc.com