COPD & Emphysema
COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a chronic respiratory disease due to permanent and progressive inflammation and obstruction of the bronchi. It is a very common condition affecting the airways.
The condition is caused by pollutants getting into the lungs causing chronic inflammation which leads to obstruction of the airways. COPD is a long-term condition that causes inflammation in the lungs, damaged lung tissue and a narrowing of the airways.
This leads to symptoms such as shortness of breath, a chesty cough and wheeze. It mainly affects people who are middle aged or older. Tobacco smoking is the main risk factor for the disease, but there are also other causes such as workplace exposures and air pollution.
Emphysema is a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. In severe emphysema, parts of the lungs are damaged, which traps air in the lungs (called hyperinflation of the lungs).
COPD is the third leading cause of death globally and in the EU.¹
It is essential to treat it, because even though the disease is incurable, its course can be slowed.
About COPD & EmphysemaTake our self-test to get a better idea of whether you are at risk of having COPD/emphysema.
Take the quizTreatment Options for Emphysema
With the right treatment, you may breathe more easily, be more active, and enjoy a better quality of life². There are a number of treatment options available, with and without medication. Together with your primary healthcare provider, which could be your General practitioner, you can create a treatment plan that works for you.
Many people will use more than one kind of treatment to manage their symptoms. Different treatment combinations will work better for different people.
The
most common treatments
1. Eurostat Database, OECD Health Statistics 2022
2. Criner, G et al. Am J Resp Crit Care Med. 2018 Nov 1;198(9):1151‒1164.