COPD: How It Affects the Lungs

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a progressive lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. It's caused by damage to the lungs' airways and air sacs, which can be caused by smoking, secondhand smoke, air pollution, or other factors.

COPD affects the lungs in several ways:

1. Damage to the airways. The airways are the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. In COPD, the airways can become inflamed, narrowed, and blocked by mucus. This makes it difficult for air to flow in and out of the lungs, which can cause shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing.

2. Destruction of the air sacs. The air sacs are the tiny sacs in the lungs where oxygen is transferred to the bloodstream. In COPD, the air sacs can be destroyed, which reduces the amount of oxygen that can get into the bloodstream. This can lead to low blood oxygen levels, which can cause fatigue, weakness, and confusion.

3. Thickening of the lung tissue. The lung tissue can become thickened and scarred in COPD. This makes it difficult for the lungs to expand and contract, which can further reduce airflow and make breathing difficult.

4. Changes in the blood vessels. The blood vessels in the lungs can become narrowed and blocked in COPD. This can make it difficult for blood to flow to the lungs, which can lead to high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension).

COPD is a progressive disease, which means that it gets worse over time. As the disease progresses, the damage to the lungs can become more severe, and symptoms can become more frequent and severe.

There is no cure for COPD, but treatment can help to slow the progression of the disease and relieve symptoms. Treatment options include medications, oxygen therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes.