Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease that can make it hard to breathe. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are common forms of the disease. COPD causes the airways in your lungs to become inflamed and thicken, destroying the tissue where oxygen is exchanged.
As a result, the flow of air in and out of your lungs decreases. It becomes harder for the body to get oxygen in and carbon dioxide out.
Many COPD sufferers find that as the disease progresses, they get short of breath more often and it’s harder to remain active.