5Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is an umbrella term for some diseases that affect the alveoli in the lungs. Under the effect of these conditions, the process of exchanging gas in the lungs can be more challenging. This leads to common symptoms, such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, chronic cough, and coughing up blood. They tend to develop slowly and become worse over time. The risk tends to be higher in smokers. While COPD currently cannot be cured, some treatment options are available to slow the progression and improve the quality of life. These include medications, lifestyle changes, exercising, or breathing techniques. [6]
