Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Treating Emphysema And Chronic Bronchitis: Respiratory Health

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Treating emphysema and chronic bronchitis

How long can you survive without food? Without water? Without air? Most people can go for weeks without food, and for several days without water. But air? It's no secret that the human body will succumb to oxygen deprivation in just a few minutes, as brain cells begin to die and body systems follow suit.

Your lungs are the gateway to this life-sustaining substance. They are on the front line, allowing entry to all-important oxygen molecules while simultaneously fending off enemies such as bacteria, viruses, pollutants, and smoke. In the process, the lungs take a beating, particularly in people who smoke. Cumulative damage can lead to the illnesses doctors classify as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Many people have never heard of COPD, but it is one of the most serious and widespread medical conditions of our time. COPD is lung disease. It includes the often overlapping problems of chronic bronchitis and emphysema. If you have either or both of these lung diseases and your airflow is obstructed, you have COPD. It is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, after heart disease, cancer, and stroke. And it is the only one of these illnesses that is becoming more common.

It's also the only one that's almost entirely preventable. That's because nearly all cases are caused by smoking, at least in the United States and other developed countries. While smoking is by far the main cause, passive smoking (inhaling secondhand smoke) can also contribute to the disease, especially if you live with a smoker for many years.

About 11 million Americans have COPD, and each year roughly 120,000 people die of it. By comparison, each year lung cancer is diagnosed in 175,000 Americans and claims about 160,000 lives. Cancer kills faster; about 85% of people with lung cancer die within five years of their diagnosis. But people with COPD often live for many years. Because of this, the disease's greatest toll is the tremendous amount of disability it causes. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the main reasons for days lost from work and permanent disability. In addition to cutting your working years short, it can also sap you of the strength and stamina for leisure activities, such as travel, exercise, and even socializing with friends.

Doctors once assumed that COPD was untreatable. Fortunately, that view has changed. Since the 1980s, researchers have learned an enormous amount about the underlying biology of the disease.

This report describes the most effective treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation strategies, as well as promising research on potential new therapies.

Last updated:	May 23, 2007