chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd),lung disease,main page

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as copd, is often caused by cigarette smoking. spirometry will show a reduced forced vital capacity. there are two major forms of copd, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. when asthmatic bronchitis is chronic, this can also lead to copd. symptoms can be coughing up of blood, which is called hemoptysis. a complication is right sided heart failure, associated with pulmonary hypertension, called cor pulmonale. treatment is multifaceted.