What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a chronic, irreversible obstruction of air flow from the lungs that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and a range of other lung disorders. The two main types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are chronic obstructive bronchitis and emphysema.

What is it like to have COPD?

Common Symptoms Patients' Latest Severity My Current Severity  
Severity
Severe
Moderate
Mild
None
Cough None Mild Moderate Severe
Phlegm None Mild Moderate Severe
Shortness of breath (dyspnea) None Mild Moderate Severe
Wheezing None Mild Moderate Severe

What do patients take to treat COPD and its symptoms?

Commonly prescribed and frequently used treatments

Treatment name Efficacy Overall rating of side effects # of Evaluations
Albuterol
(Albuterol Nebulizer, Respigen, Proventil, ProAir HFA)
14
Fluticasone-Salmeterol
(Seretide Evohaler, Seroflo Rotacap, Advair HFA, Advair Diskus)
7
Prednisone
(Encorton, Deltasone, Pronizon)
6

These charts show data from COPD patients' latest treatment evaluations

Who has COPD at PatientsLikeMe?

<20 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70+
Current Age
Distribution of females vs. males
Gender
81% Females
19% Males
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom # of patients Proportion
0-19 yrs 10
20-29 yrs 29
30-39 yrs 71
40-49 yrs 109
50-59 yrs 61
60-69 yrs 18
70+ yrs 1
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status # of patients Proportion
Diagnosed 371
Not Officially Diagnosed 14

These charts show data from COPD patients who have completed their condition history