Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases

Chronic lower respiratory diseases are a group of diseases that affect the airways and lungs. The biggest killer is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. COPD includes two main illnesses:

• Emphysema (em-fuh-ZEE-muh) - Usually caused by smoking, having emphysema means some of the air sacs in your lungs are damaged, making it hard for your body to get the oxygen it needs.
• Chronic bronchitis (brong-KEYE-tuhss) - The cells lining the inside of the lungs' airways are red and swollen when you have chronic bronchitis. The airways in your lungs have become narrow and partly clogged with mucus that cannot be cleared.

Cigarette smoking is the main cause of COPD. If you smoke, you are 12 times as likely to die of COPD as are men who have never smoked. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis also are strongly associated with lung cancer.

Most cases of COPD are preventable! Take these steps:

• Don't smoke.
• Avoid secondhand smoke.
• Minimize exposure to workplace chemicals (lead and organic solvents).

COPD develops over time and has no cure. At the onset, there is minimal shortness of breath. But over time, people with COPD may need oxygen treatment to help with shortness of breath. If you have COPD, you can stop or slow the damage to your lungs by quitting smoking.

Additional Resources:

COPD: Learn More Breathe Better - This Web site focuses on the risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), underscores the benefits of early detection, and addresses treatments that slow down the disease.

FastStats: Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease - This publication provides statistical information on illness and death caused by chronic lower respiratory disease (CLRD). It also provides a summary of health care use by patients with CLRD.

What Is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)? - This publication provides in-depth information on how the lungs work, and how chronic bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia, and COPD can affect lung health. It also provides information on treatment and research information.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (Copyright © National Jewish Medical Research Center) - This Web site will help you learn the basics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and provide you with information about the strategies used to treat and cope with COPD.

Nutritional Guidelines for People With COPD (Copyright © Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - This article provides basic information to help patients with COPD make healthy food choices. Changing eating habits will not cure COPD, but doing so can help people with COPD feel better.