COPD is a general term used for a range of chronic (long-term) illnesses that affect your lungs and airways, making it harder to breathe.
Common examples of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema, which are characterized by difficulty breathing, lung or airflow restrictions, and coughing. But there can be a range of other symptoms that vary in severity and differ from person to person.
COPD is a progressive condition, meaning it tends to get worse over time. Treatment can help to slow down its progression while limiting symptoms like inflammation and tightening airways.
Who gets COPD?
While it can be caused or worsened by a range of factors, smoking is the leading cause of COPD.
There’s also increasing evidence to suggest that air pollution is a major cause, especially in developing countries, where an estimated 25-45% of people with COPD have no history of smoking.
Genetics can also contribute, and those with the genetic condition Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency are at greater risk of developing COPD - a condition thought to be more common than diagnosis figures suggest.
How common is COPD?
COPD is quite common worldwide. Historically, it’s been more widespread in men than women - according to one analysis of figures that covered 2004 to 2015, the overall prevalence in men aged 30 years or more was estimated to be around 15.7%, compared to 9.9% in women. It’s been theorized that this was because men were more likely to be smokers.
But recent figures suggest that, globally, the condition is more common in women than in men (56% vs 44%). It’s not known exactly why, but one study has noted a higher prevalence in women in self-reported data sets (maybe suggesting that women are more likely to go and seek advice and diagnosis for symptoms than men).
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
COPD
What causes COPD?
COPD is mainly caused by exposure to harmful particles and gases, which leads to difficulty breathing. It’s a chronic inflammation of the airways, lung tissue, alveoli, and blood vessels, which narrows the airways.
This can cause the overproduction of thick mucus, the loss of alveoli (tiny air sacs in the lungs that help exchange oxygen and CO2), and high blood pressure. It can also lead to other chronic lung problems if it’s not treated.
What are the symptoms of COPD?
Symptoms of COPD can vary from person to person. But the main symptoms many people get include:
Persistent cough
Shortness of breath
Production of sputum (thick mucus)
Wheezing
Other common symptoms may include:
Weight-loss
Feeling very tired
Barrel chest (where your chest looks like you’re breathing in all the time)
Distant breath sounds
Poor air movement
Coarse crackles
Less common symptoms can also include:
Headache
Muscle loss
Pursed-lip breathing
Tachypnoea (abnormally rapid breathing)
Low extremity swelling, such as in your ankles
Cyanosis (bluish skin or lips) Loud P2 (loud heart sounds)
Hepatojugular reflux (distension of the neck veins)
Hepatosplenomegaly (swollen liver and spleen)
Clubbing (abnormal changes in the areas under and around the fingernails and toenails)
Can COPD lead to other problems?
Without effective treatment and lifestyle changes, COPD becomes a degenerative condition, sometimes called exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ECOPD). It’s also been linked to other related diseases such as lung cancer, recurrent pneumonia, respiratory failure, and anemia.
People suffering from COPD are also more likely to catch common colds, influenza, and pneumonia. It’s currently estimated to be the third-leading cause of death in the world, and responsible for 6% of all world deaths.
Quitting smoking and reducing exposure to lung irritants instantly decreases the risk of infections and other conditions. It’s also recommended that you get a pneumonia vaccination and an annual flu shot to reduce your risk of infection if you have COPD.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
COPD
What medications are there for COPD?
There isn’t a cure for COPD, and it isn’t reversible, but there’s a range of treatments available that can help manage and improve your symptoms.
Most are inhalers, and there are two main types:
Bronchodilators. These open the airways, allowing air to flow more freely through them. This helps to relieve symptoms such as wheezing and breathlessness. The two main types of bronchodilators are beta-2 agonist inhalers and antimuscarinic inhalers.
Beta-2 agonist inhalers work by relaxing the muscles and helping to dilate (widen) the airways, whereas antimuscarinic inhalers reduce tightness in the muscle wall of your respiratory passages. These can be used for short-term and immediate relief, and are usually used a few times a day to help improve symptoms.
If your symptoms persist, you might use a long-acting bronchodilator. These work in a similar way to short-acting bronchodilators, but each dose will last for a longer period (usually 12 hours or more). As a result, they don’t need to be used as often (maybe only once or twice a day).
Steroid inhalers. These are usually prescribed to work alongside a bronchodilator. They contain corticosteroid medicines, which can help to reduce inflammation in the airways.
Tablets or capsules might also be prescribed, such as theophylline tablets. They are a type of bronchodilator that can help to reduce swelling in the airways and relax the muscles that line them.
Is there a ‘best’ treatment for COPD?
This will depend on your symptoms. Treatments are often combined to help them be more effective. If you’re not sure what treatment might be best for you, we can help you narrow down some options.
Besides treatment, there are other things you can do to help COPD. Always try to reduce exposure to any harmful chemicals or irritants wherever possible, and try to quit or cut down on your cigarette use if you’re a smoker.
Gentle exercise can increase breathing ability, help ease symptoms, and prevent severe attacks as well.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
COPD
COPD: FAQ
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Does COPD treatment always work?
Answer:
A range of treatments are proven to be effective at reducing the symptoms of COPD and stopping the condition from getting worse. However, it’s important to remember that damage to the lungs cannot be reversed, so treatments will relieve symptoms but won’t reverse the development of COPD.
It’s important to always use any treatments that you’ve been prescribed correctly, and combine them with suitable lifestyle changes in order to get the best out of them.
Can you get side effects from COPD treatment?
Answer:
As with all medicines, side effects can vary from person to person. The most common side effects of COPD treatments include: headaches, feeling or being sick, experiencing a dry mouth, and coughing immediately after treatment, such as with the inhalers. Higher doses of steroids are usually only prescribed for short-term use, as they can cause side effects such as a sore throat, a hoarse voice, yeast infection, and nosebleeds.
Specific advice on possible side effects can be found on our product pages, your medication guide, or by talking to one of our clinicians.
How is COPD diagnosed?
Answer:
Usually, COPD is diagnosed by discussing your symptoms with a doctor, an examination of your chest and breathing, and talking over potential lifestyle factors, such as smoking or work-based hazards and increased exposure to pollution. Your body mass index (BMI) might also be calculated using your height and weight, as this might worsen your symptoms. A doctor might also look at your personal and family medical history and evidence of any lung conditions.
A breathing test called spirometry might also be done, which will show you how well your lungs are performing. A chest x-ray may also be advised to check that it’s not something with similar symptoms to COPD, such as a chest infection. And finally, blood tests can sometimes be done to rule out other conditions, or to see if there’s evidence of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, which increases the risk of COPD.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is not a rare disease, but a disease that is rarely diagnosed. Environmental Health Perspectives, 111(16), pp.1851–1854.
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Last updated on Aug 14, 2025.
COPD isn’t available right now.
Aug 14, 2025
Published by: The Treated Content Team.Medically reviewed by: Dr. Joseph Palumbo, Senior Medical Adviser
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When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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