Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease in which the lungs are damaged, making it hard to breathe. In COPD, the airways - the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs - are partly obstructed, making it difficult to get air in and out.

Facts

What is COPD? (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute)

Overview discusses COPD causes, who is at risk, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and living with COPD.

JAMA Patient Page: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (PDF, New Window)

One-page summary of COPD.

COPD at Medline Plus

COPD basics, tutorials, news, clinical trials, information for seniors, and other resources.

Learn More, Breathe Better (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute)

Learn more about COPD, find out if you are at risk, and learn how to breathe better with COPD.

Information for Patients

Could it be COPD? (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease)

These five questions can help you find out if you might COPD.

COPD Population ScreenerTM (PDF, New Window)

If you are over 35, these five questions can help you and your doctor determine if you are at risk for COPD.

European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society Information for Patients

Comprehensive patient information in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and German.

Breathing Better With a COPD Diagnosis (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute) (PDF, New Window)

Printer-friendly tips to make living with COPD easier.

Living Well With COPD Patient Education Guide (American College of Chest Physicians) (PDF, New Window)

Comprehensive patient education guide reviews seven important steps for better living with COPD.

Better Breathers Club (American Lung Association of California)

Learn ways to better cope with the disease while getting the support of others who share in your struggles.

Patient Guide: What You Can Do About a Lung Disease Called COPD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease)

Illustrated guide to living with COPD, available in English, Arabic, and Italian.

California Smokers’ Helpline

Want help quitting smoking? Call 1-800-NO-BUTTS to access self-help materials, a referral list of other programs, and one-on-one counseling over the phone.

Prevention and Control

California Smokers’ Helpline

Want help quitting smoking? Call 1-800-NO-BUTTS to access self-help materials, a referral list of other programs, and one-on-one counseling over the phone.

Great American Smokeout (American Cancer Society)

Annual event to inspire and encourage smokers to quit for one day. Resources include Guide to Quitting Smoking, Reasons to Quit, and tips for planning your quit day.

Laws and Regulations

California Legislative Information

ACR 62, Galgiani, Relative to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, introduced April 20, 2009

Diagnosis and Management Information for Health Professionals

Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Updated 2008 (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease)

Recommendations for the management of COPD, updated in 2008 based on a review of recent literature.

Standards for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with COPD (European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society)

Guidelines, updated in 2005, are available in an interactive online format, as a downloadable PDF, and for Palm OS.

Work-Related COPD Information for Health Professionals

Occupational Respiratory Disease Surveillance: Which industries show high COPD mortality? (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)

Reviews the top five industries and occupations with higher-than-expected death rates from COPD.

NIOSH Update: New Leads for Lung-Disease Prevention Offered in NIOSH Study That Charts Areas of High Prevalence

Brief summary of a 2002 study that identifies industries and occupations with a higher-than-expected prevalence of COPD.

Tables summarize occupationally-related COPD surveillance data.

American Thoracic Society Statement: Occupational Contribution to the Burden of Airway Disease (Am J Respir Crit Care Med Vol 167. pp 787–797, 2003)

Report explores the role of occupational exposures in the development of COPD and the overall burden of work-related COPD in the population.

Occupation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic bronchitis: an update (Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2007;11(3):251-257)

Update to 2003 ATS Statement reviews studies published since 2000 and estimates that 15% of COPD is due to work-related factors.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Occupational Exposures (J Occup Med Toxicol 2006;1:11)

Journal article reviews the approximately 15% of COPD that is work-related.

Data and Surveillance

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Surveillance --- United States, 1971—2000 MMWR Surveill Summ. 2002 Aug 2;51(6):1-16

Deaths from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease --- United States, 2000-2005 (MMWR 2008;57:1229-1232)

Estimated Prevalence and Incidence of Lung Disease by Lung Association Territory Report (American Lung Association)

Trends in Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema Morbidity and Mortality Report (American Lung Association)

Morbidity and Mortality 2007: Chart Book on Cardiovascular, Lung, and Blood Diseases (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute)