Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow to be obstructed and leads to breathing difficulty and related problems.  The leading cause of COPD is smoking.  Potential complications of COPD include respiratory infections, heart problems, high blood pressures, and lung cancer.  The main conditions that make up COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Chronic airway inflammation most frequently caused by smoking.  Other potential causes include air pollution, exposure to dust and chemicals, and rare genetic diseases

A condition in which the air sacs at the end of the bronchioles are gradually destroyed, limiting airflow out of the body

Please review the diagnosis and management guidelines from the Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium (MQIC) below.