COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It's a chronic lung condition that gets worse over time. COPD includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both. Most COPD patients have both. Click here to learn other COPD terms in the Glossary.

Millions of people have COPD, both men and women. It is also a leading cause of disability and death. Experts estimate that up to 11 million Americans have COPD. However, just as many people have some form of lung problem but haven't been diagnosed with COPD.

Do you have breathing problems? Find out how serious they are with this symptom checker.

The most common cause of COPD is smoking. It is 10 times more likely that a smoker will die from it than a nonsmoker. Secondhand tobacco smoke may also increase a person's chance of getting COPD.

Another cause of COPD is exposure to indoor or outdoor pollutants. It can also be caused by a rare genetic condition called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.

COPD is a progressive condition. But it can be treated.

COPD can cause you to be less and less active over time. Which can lead to you becoming more and more out of shape. And that can make it even harder for you to breathe. That's why it's so important to manage your COPD.

COPD can affect your life as early as your 40s. But COPD is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. This can be because COPD is often confused with other issues. These can include:

The good news is that there are many things you can do to manage your COPD.
Learn how to live with COPD by doing things like exercising regularly, eating healthy foods, quitting smoking, and making other lifestyle changes.