Last Updated on December 10, 2024 by Analgesia team
COPD Medical Abbreviation
COPD is the medical abbreviation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
COPD is a common lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. It’s caused by airway inflammation and scarring, or damage to the air sacs in the lungs. The two main forms of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema:
- Chronic bronchitis: A long-term cough with mucus
- Emphysema: Damage to the lungs over time
Treatment
There is no cure for COPD, but treatments can help slow its progression and keep it under control. Treatments include medicines, oxygen, pulmonary rehabilitation, and avoiding smoking and exposure to air pollution.
Complications
COPD can lead to life-threatening problems. It’s important to plan for end of life care, such as palliative care, in advance.
COPD is sometimes called emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Emphysema is a form of COPD that damages the walls between the air sacs in the lungs, making it harder to move air out of the body. Chronic bronchitis is another form of COPD that involves a long-term cough with mucus
The leading cause of COPD in the United States is long-term cigarette smoking, but other factors may also be involved. These include:
- Cigar smoke
- Secondhand smoke
- Pipe smoke
- Air pollution
- Workplace exposure to dust, smoke, or fumes