What is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

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.

How do members experience chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease*

*Data from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Albuterol Inhaler)
Perceived effectiveness
for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (13 evaluations)
Side effects
burning mouth syndrome jittery feeling
Total evaluations
13
Tried for
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (17)
Treatment

(Prednisone Intensol)
Perceived effectiveness
for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (3 evaluations)
Side effects
agitation hunger
Total evaluations
3
Tried for
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (9)
Treatment

(transtracheal oxygen)
Perceived effectiveness
for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
2
Tried for
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (6)
Treatment

(Flovent)
Perceived effectiveness
for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (3 evaluations)
Side effects
weight gain
Total evaluations
3
Tried for
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (3)
Treatment

(Pulmicort)
Perceived effectiveness
for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1 evaluation)
Side effects
nervousness
Total evaluations
1
Tried for
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2)

*Data from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 0
20s 26
30s 104
40s 363
50s 1,456
60s 3,177
70+ 3,475

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 2,217
Female 6,427