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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung diseases that cause swelling of the airways. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the most common forms of COPD.
The leading cause of COPD is smoking. Between 15% and 20% of long-term smokers will develop COPD. Prolonged tobacco use causes lung inflammation and destroys air sacs in the lungs. (In rare cases, an enzyme deficiency called alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency can cause emphysema in non-smokers.)
Other risk factors for COPD are exposure to secondhand smoke, male gender, and working or living in a polluted environment.
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