Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also called COPD, is actually a group of lung diseases. People with COPD have limitations in the airflow through their airways. The limitation usually worsens over time. Lungs of people with COPD become easily inflamed from noxious particles or gases. The airways produce extra mucus, which is coughed up as sputum.
Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are two common types of COPD. Chronic bronchitis is an ongoing inflammation of the large airways. Emphysema is a chronic disease in which the tissues of the lungs are gradually destroyed.
What is going on in the body?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is caused by exposure to noxious gases or particles, especially cigarette smoke. Over time, this exposure damages the airways. The airways try to protect themselves by making more mucus. However, the lungs may slowly get damaged from chronic irritation. The increased mucus and lung damage can be permanent.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently developed a classification system for the severity of COPD. There are four stages of severity, as outlined below:
What are the causes and risks of the disease?
Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of COPD. The risk goes up with the amount of tobacco smoked, and the number of years of smoking. COPD is most common in countries where smoking is prevalent. It is less common in countries where people smoke less. Passive smoking, or exposure to secondhand smoke, does increase a person's risk for COPD.
Other risk factors for COPD include the following: