What is COPD?
Did You Know?
- COPD is the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. and causes serious, long-term disability
- COPD kills more than 120,000 Americans each year. That's one death every 4 minutes
- More than 12 million people are diagnosed with COPD
- An additional 12 million likely have COPD and don't even know it
COPD is a serious lung disease that over time, makes it hard to breathe. You may also have heard COPD called other names, like emphysema or chronic bronchitis. In people who have COPD, the airways—tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs—are partially blocked, which makes it hard to get air in and out.
When COPD is severe, shortness of breath and other symptoms of COPD can get in the way of even the most basic tasks, such as doing light housework, taking a walk, even washing and dressing.
