Definition

Noun: A serious, long-term lung condition that makes it difficult to breathe. It is a combination of two diseases—emphysema and chronic bronchitis—and is typically caused by many years of smoking. The damage to the lungs is permanent and gets worse over time.

Usage

"Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" is a formal medical term, often abbreviated as COPD. It is used to diagnose and describe a specific, progressive illness of the lungs. - It is primarily caused by inhaling irritants, especially cigarette smoke. - The disease is characterized by blocked airflow from the lungs. - Symptoms include shortness of breath, chronic cough, and frequent respiratory infections.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "End-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease": Refers to the most severe phase of the disease, where lung function is very poor.
• "Exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease": Describes a sudden worsening of symptoms, often requiring emergency medical care.

Variants and Related Words

• COPD (noun): The universal abbreviation for "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease."
  • Her doctor said her COPD was manageable with medication.
• Emphysema (noun): One of the two main diseases that make up COPD, involving damage to the air sacs in the lungs.
• Chronic bronchitis (noun): The other main disease in COPD, involving long-term inflammation of the bronchial tubes.

Synonyms

• COPD: The direct abbreviation.
• Chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD): A less common but synonymous term.

Related Phrases

• "Living with COPD": A common phrase used in patient support and education to discuss managing the disease daily.
• "COPD management": Refers to the overall plan (medication, therapy, lifestyle) to control the disease.

Noun

1. a nonreversible lung disease that is a combination of emphysema and chronic bronchitis; usually patients have been heavy cigarette smokers