Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
About COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production and wheezing. It’s typically caused by long-term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter, most often from cigarette smoke. People with COPD are at increased risk of developing heart disease, lung cancer and a variety of other conditions. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common conditions that contribute to COPD. These two conditions usually occur together and can vary in severity among individuals with COPD.
Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs. It’s characterized by daily cough and mucus (sputum) production.
Emphysema
Emphysema is a condition in which the alveoli at the end of the smallest air passages (bronchioles) of the lungs are destroyed as a result of damaging exposure to cigarette smoke and other irritating gases and particulate matter.
Although COPD is a progressive disease that gets worse over time, COPD is treatable. With proper management, most people with COPD can achieve good symptom control and quality of life, as well as reduced risk of other associated conditions.
Our Research
We at the Respiratory Research Center conduct clinical trials for investigative medications and exercise rehabilitation for the treatment of COPD. Qualified research participants will receive financial compensation for their time and travel, study-related medical evaluations, and the investigative study medication at no cost. Help advance medicine and medical research through participating in one of our clinical trials.
Other Resources
Learn more about COPD and the current research
Our Research Contributions
- Expanded the understanding of the utility of oxygen therapy for COPD patients
- Evaluated new bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory drugs intended to improve lung function and exercise tolerance in COPD patients
- Demonstrated that pursed lip breathing can increase oxygen saturation of patients with obstructive or restrictive lung diseases, as well as in those with normal lung function at various altitudes
- Showed that an appetite stimulant was effective in increasing body weight in underweight COPD patients
More of Our Research Specialties
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Exercise Training and Rehabilitation
Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a supervised medical program that helps people who have lung diseases live and breathe better.
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Muscle Weakness
There are many reasons why individuals may lose strength, but in many patients with chronic heart, lung or kidney diseases the loss of muscle mass and strength is faster than normal.
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Asthma
Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, a whistling sound (wheezing)
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Unexplained Dyspnea & Exercise Intolerance
Shortness-of-breath, or Dyspnea, is a common symptom that causes exercise limitation or “intolerance”. Breathlessness during exercise is often