COPD or popularly known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is a type of lung disease which makes a person hard to breathe. COPD has two forms which are the Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema. Chronic Bronchitis involves a long term cough with mucus while Emphysema involves damage to the lung over a period of time.

What causes COPD? When a person smokes, s/he most likely will develop the condition. However, some people tend to be luckier for not developing the condition despite years of smoking. Other causes of COPD are the following:

• Exposure to gases or fumes
• Second hand smoking
• Lack of proper ventilation

Symptoms of COPD include:

• Instant coughing (with or without mucus)
• Fatigue
• Respiratory infections
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing

Most of the symptoms develop over a period of time which makes it difficult to diagnose. Once symptoms appear and persist, visit your health care provider and get a medical advise on how to relieve the symptoms. Inhalers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and certain antibiotics may be prescribed during symptom flare-ups.

Reference: United States National Library of Medicine. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000091.htm.