COPD

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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a lung disease that affects breathing. This disease is one that blocks or obstructs air flow which then affects the way that one breathes. It diminishes the capability of airflow in and out of the lungs. COPD is the term used for a group of different diseases that affect the lungs. The two most common types of COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema is a destruction of the small bronchioles in the lungs and chronic bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes. Both emphysema and chronic bronchitis are obstructive diseases that impact breathing in a negative manner. (COPD, 2014) Someone diagnosed with COPD must understand that the damage done to the lungs by this disease is not reversible. The prognosis is one of stopping further damage to the lungs. To minimize this damage the person is treated for symptoms of the disease and not healing of it. The symptoms of COPD usually show up after the lungs have been significantly damaged and due to this late formation of symptoms and their inability to ...

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