COPD Information at the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary (PULL-mun-ary) disease, is a progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe… In the United States, the term "COPD" includes two main conditions— emphysema (em-fi-SE-ma) and chronic obstructive bronchitis (bron-KI-tis). In emphysema, the walls between many of the air sacs are damaged, causing them to lose their shape and become floppy… See more from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health.
Facts about COPD from the Centers for Disease Control and prevention
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. It includes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and in some cases asthma. COPD is a leading cause of death, illness, and disability in the United States. In 2000, 119,000 deaths, 726,000 hospitalizations, and 1.5 million hospital emergency departments visits were caused by COPD. More at the CDC.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Information at Johns Hopkins Medicine
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term for conditions that obstruct the air passages (bronchi) or damage the small air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs, resulting in progressively impaired breathing. Two primary disorders that constitute COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis; many patients with COPD exhibit a combination of both. Read more at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Essentials
What is it? What are the symptoms? How is it diagnosed? How common is it? What will happen? Questions to ask. Key points about treatments at Consumer Reports.
Endobronchial Valve Significantly Improves Emphysema
Emphysema patients whose lungs are implanted with a pencil eraser-sized, one-way endobronchial valve experience significantly improved measures of lung function and report better quality of life… See the UPMC press release.
Researchers Identify Protein That Plays Key Role in Pulmonary Emphysema Development
Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine are blazing a trail down a molecular pathway that could lead to new treatments, and perhaps even prevention strategies, for the lung disease emphysema. See the UPMC press release.
Researchers Report Enzyme Directly Fights Bacterial Lung Infection
An enzyme known to play a key role in the development of emphysema serves as the first line of defense against bacterial infection of the lung, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. See the UPMC press release.
Physicians Confirm Autoimmunity as Factor in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Pulmonary specialists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine are reporting solid evidence that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an autoimmune disease in many patients. See the UPMC press release.
COPD – Podcast
This podcast will discuss what COPD is and its causes, risk factors, and signs and symptoms. It also will discuss how COPD is diagnosed and treated, how it can be prevented, and how to care for yourself if you have COPD. … Listen to the podcast from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health.
Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable disease with some significant extrapulmonary effects that may contribute to the severity in individual patients. See National Guideline Clearinghouse major recommendations.
Abstract: Design of the Endobronchial Valve for Emphysema Palliation Trial (VENT): a non-surgical method of lung volume reduction.
Lung volume reduction surgery is effective at improving lung function, quality of life, and mortality in carefully selected individuals with advanced emphysema. Recently, less invasive bronchoscopic approaches have been designed to utilize these principles while avoiding the associated perioperative risks. Full text available free through PubMed.
Abstract: Lung volume reduction surgery and lung transplantation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Medical treatment of emphysema does not alter the natural progression of the disease. Surgical techniques are an attractive conceptual approach to treat hyperinflation in these patients. Full text available free through PubMed.
Abstract: Bullectomy is comparable to lung volume reduction in patients with end-stage emphysema.
Emphysema is one of the most prevalent disabling diseases, not modified by current medical treatment and physical rehabilitation. Lung transplantation is an effective clinical option in end-stage emphysema but it is available only for a limited number of patients. Bullectomy and lung volume reduction represent other surgical options to improve symptoms and exercise tolerance in selected patients. Full text available free
through PubMed.
Abstract: Physiologic basis for improved pulmonary function after lung volume reduction.
It is not readily apparent how pulmonary function could be improved by resecting portions of the lung in patients with emphysema. In emphysema, elevation in residual volume relative to total lung capacity reduces forced expiratory volumes, increases inspiratory effort, and impairs inspiratory muscle mechanics. Full text available free through PubMed.
Abstract: Do bullae and emphysema increase risk of pneumothorax in silicosis?
The occurrence of occupational lung diseases is decreasing due to improvements in occupational health in recent years; however, silicosis and its complications remain important occupational health problems. Full text available free through PubMed.
Abstract: Hyperinflation and its management in COPD.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by poorly reversible airflow limitation. The pathological hallmarks of COPD are inflammation of the peripheral airways and destruction of lung parenchyma or emphysema. Full text available free through PubMed.
Abstract: Helium-hyperoxia, exercise, and respiratory mechanics in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Hyperoxia and normoxic helium independently reduce dynamic hyperinflation and improve the exercise tolerance of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Combining these gases could have an additive effect on dynamic hyperinflation and a greater impact on respiratory mechanics and exercise tolerance. Full text available free through PubMed.
Abstract: Treatment of respiratory failure in COPD.
Patients with advanced COPD and acute or chronic respiratory failure are at high risk for death. Beyond pharmacological treatment, supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation are major treatment options. Full text available free through PubMed.
Abstract: Optimizing bronchodilator therapy in emphysema.
The treatment objectives for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) include relieving symptoms such as dyspnea and cough, slowing the accelerated decline in lung function, decreasing exacerbations, and improving quality of life. All major guidelines for COPD management recommend beginning treatment with bronchodilators. Full text available free through PubMed.
Abstract: Inhaled drugs to reduce exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a network meta-analysis.
Most patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) receive inhaled long-acting bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids. Conventional meta-analyses established that these drugs reduce COPD exacerbations when separately compared with placebo. Full text available free through PubMed.
Abstract: Gender differences in the severity of CT emphysema in COPD.
The hallmark of COPD is airflow obstruction, but this can develop on the basis of airway disease, emphysema, or both. There are gender differences in the natural history of COPD, and these may in part be explained by differences in the pathophysiology of airflow obstruction. Full text available free through PubMed.
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