People with COPD often get exacerbations, or worsening of symptoms, like severe difficulty breathing, thicker mucus, wheezing and cough. You might need to go to the hospital for severe exacerbations.

COPD gets progressively worse over time. Flare-ups get more severe and happen more often. This usually takes years or decades, though some people get worse faster.

Types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

COPD includes both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. People with COPD often have features of both.

• Emphysema is when your alveoli become damaged and enlarged. The most common symptom is shortness of breath (dyspnea).
• Chronic bronchitis is inflammation in your large airways. This narrows your airways and makes lots of mucus. Cough is the most common symptom.

What are the symptoms of COPD?

Symptoms of COPD include:

• Cough with mucus that you’ve had for a long time (for three months or longer at a time for at least two years).
• Difficulty taking a deep breath.
• Shortness of breath, especially when performing daily activities or with mild exertion.
• Wheezing or other lung sounds.
• Barrel-shaped chest.
• Bluish skin (cyanosis).

What causes COPD?

Damage to your lungs from smoking is the most common cause of COPD. Other causes include:

• Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (“alpha-1”), a genetic disorder that can lead to lung damage.
• Secondhand smoke.
• Air pollution.
• Exposure to dust and fumes from your job or hobbies.

What are the risk factors for this condition?

While smoking is the biggest risk factor for COPD, not everyone who smokes will develop it. You may be at higher risk for COPD if you:

• Are a person assigned female at birth.
• Are over the age of 65.
• Have been exposed to air pollution.
• Have worked with chemicals, dust or fumes.
• Have alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
• Had many respiratory infections during childhood.