COPD is a collective term referring to chronic, progressive lung disease. Many types of lung disease that cause airway obstruction fall under the umbrella of COPD. The most common types of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is common to have more than one type of COPD.

Emphysema

Emphysema is most commonly caused by smoking but may also be caused by the genetic disorder alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, or alpha-1. In emphysema, the walls between the alveoli (tiny air sacs where oxygen is exchanged) are destroyed, causing the sacs to become larger and larger. Air becomes trapped inside the lungs, and it is difficult to breathe. Emphysema makes it difficult to exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen.

Chronic Bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is caused by irritation to the lungs, which may include smoking, air pollution — including secondhand smoke — and recurring lung infections. In chronic bronchitis, the airways respond to irritation by becoming inflamed and producing mucus. The airways become blocked, causing shortness of breath, coughing up phlegm, wheezing, and chest pains.

Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency (Alpha-1)

Alpha-1 is a genetic disorder that limits the amount of a protein (alpha-1-antitrypsin, or AAT) that helps protect the lungs. People with alpha-1 do not produce enough AAT, resulting in lung damage similar to that in emphysema. Alpha-1 can cause COPD to develop even in people who have never smoked, and it increases the risk for COPD in people who have smoked. Alpha-1 is the cause of COPD in approximately 5 percent of those diagnosed. In addition to symptoms common in other forms of COPD, people with alpha-1 may experience year-round allergies and bronchiectasis. Alpha-1 can also cause liver disease and panniculitis, an inflammation of the fatty layer of the skin. Most people with alpha-1 are diagnosed after lung disease develops, around the age of 30 or 40, or when liver disease develops, around age 40.

Refractory Asthma

Refractory means stubborn or unmanageable. Refractory asthma is a severe form of asthma that is non-reversible, meaning that medications are ineffective in treating it. Asthma may be caused by allergies or triggers such as exercise, cold air, or stress. Asthma causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Many doctors consider refractory asthma as separate from but closely related to COPD. Estimates indicate that as many as 40 percent of people diagnosed with COPD also have asthma. In addition, asthma is considered a risk factor for developing COPD. Symptoms of refractory asthma include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

Bronchiectasis

In bronchiectasis, airways become scarred, inflamed, and filled with phlegm. Bronchiectasis is a separate disease from COPD, but the two can have such similar symptoms that doctors sometimes mistake one for the other. It is possible to have both conditions; in fact, bronchiectasis can develop in people living with COPD. Bronchiectasis has been linked to other chronic conditions including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Symptoms include coughing up blood or mucus, shortness of breath, wheezing, and fatigue.

Content Guide

• COPD — An Overview
• COPD — The Path to Diagnosis
• Stages of COPD
• Symptoms of COPD
• Treatments for COPD
• Types of COPD
• What Causes COPD?