Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) refers to a group of lung diseases that obstruct air from easily entering and exiting the lungs. Patients with COPD struggle to breathe and often have a chronic cough that produces sputum.

Diseases that are classified as COPD include:

The primary cause of COPD is smoking — including cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoking — and the best way to prevent the disease and slow its progression is to stop smoking.

Even though there is no cure for COPD, treatment may help to relieve a patient's symptoms and improve his or her quality of life.