Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic, often progressive lung condition in which the main characteristics include inflammation and airway obstruction, particularly during the exhalation or the expiratory phase of breathing.

When we talk about COPD, we are generally referring to two main conditions, Chronic Bronchitis, which is disease of the large airways (bronchi), and Emphysema, which is disease of the small airways and alveoli, the tiny air sacs where gas exchange occurs.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic, often progressive lung condition in which the main characteristics include inflammation and airway obstruction, particularly during the exhalation or the expiratory phase of breathing.

When we talk about COPD, we are generally referring to two main conditions, Chronic Bronchitis, which is disease of the large airways (bronchi), and Emphysema, which is disease of the small airways and alveoli, the tiny air sacs where gas exchange occurs.

COPD & Obstructive Lung Disease Webinars

Webinar 30: Asthma, Allergy, and the Environment
with Joan Reibman, MD
October 25, 2015

Asthma, Allergy, Airway, and the Environment with
Linda Rogers, MD
May 29, 2024

Bronchiectasis, MAC, NTM,
& Cough with
Doreen Addrizzo-Harris, MD
April 29, 2020

COPD, Emphysema, & Endobronchial Valves
with Ben-Gary Harvey, MD
June 29, 2019

Marion Mackles' Talk at the Mt. Sinai Beth Israel Cystic Fibrosis Patient/Family Symposium
April 18, 2019

Endobronchial Valves
with Eugene Shostak, MD
January 15, 2020

Lung Transplantation
with Steven Nathan, MD
February 12, 2020

Endobronchial Valves with
Amit "Bobby" Mahajan, MD
& Nancy Collar, RRT
May 18, 2020

Register For Upcoming COPD Webinars

What is Lorem Ipsum?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

What is Lorem Ipsum?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

What is Lorem Ipsum?

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Subscribe to Receive the Latest and the Greatest!

Be the First to Know About Special Promotions, Offers, and Announcements.

The most common symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, reduced oxygenation, frequent respiratory infections, and chronic cough.

People with chronic bronchitis tend to have an increase in mucus and a more productive cough, whereas people with emphysema tend to have less secretions and a dry cough.

Most people have some combination of both but in general, if you have either Chronic Bronchitis or Emphysema, you have COPD.

COPD is often caused by long-term exposure to irritants including cigarette smoke but can also result from environmental pollutants or genetic factors, and many people develop COPD despite having never smoked.

Diagnosis is usually made based upon clinical evaluation, pulmonary function tests, and imaging studies including chest x-rays (CXR) and C-T Scans.

Other obstructive pulmonary diseases include Asthma, Bronchiectasis, and Cystic Fibrosis, among others.