Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disease state characterised by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible
It is one of the most common diagnoses encountered in medical practice. COPD is an umbrella term encompassing the older terms chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
In the vast majority of cases, COPD is caused by smoking. Some patients with more mild disease may just need to use a bronchodilator occasionally whereas other patients may have several hospital admissions a year secondary to infective exacerbations.
Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency is a rare genentic cause of emphysema
Chronic bronchitis: (bronchi and bronchioles)
Emphysema: (smaller airways and alveoli)